Wanda "Wood" Cleora Taylor

Wanda Cleora (Wood) Taylor, 88, of Olympia, Washington, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington. Wanda was born to Hemp and Essie (Raper) Wood in Hood River, Oregon, on February 13, 1929. Wanda had six siblings, Houston Truman Wood, Raymond Sanford Wood, Maxine Fay Wood, Alta Lee Wood, Lena Lavern Wood and Syble Verlane Wood. Her family moved to Raymond, Washington in 1935.Growing up, she enjoyed playing games with her siblings and dancing with her sisters. As a young girl, she worked many different jobs such as babysitting, cooking and cleaning houses, as well as sewing for various families. Wanda graduated from Raymond High School in May1946. She loved all school activities, especially dances and ball games. She was a high school song queen and would sing school songs at games for the fans. After graduation, she traveled by train to San Francisco, California, to spend some time with her sister, Maxine. While there, she worked in a candy store called The Red Poppy. When she returned home, Wanda married Ralph William Everett Stark on the first day of summer, June 21, 1947. They were married to May, 1975. They had two children together, Andrea Lee Stark and Terry Wayne Stark. Wanda later married Lloyd “Dick” Taylor of South Bend, Washington. Dick had four children, Scott, Mike, Tim, and Hyla. Dick preceded her in death on August 31, 1981. She continued to stay in the family home and raised Dick’s youngest child, Hyla. She later moved to Olympia where she lived until her death. In the late ‘50s early ‘60s, Wanda worked at the Raymond Dairy Queen. She later was employed at JC Penney, Pacific Wholesale, and briefly was a co-owner of a fabric store called the Treadle Stop. Wanda was a phenomenal homemaker, a remarkable seamstress, and loved quilting, cooking and baking (much to the delight of her family). In her younger years, she loved to bowl and was quite good at it. She was proud of her Native American heritage and was a member of the Cherokee Nation Tribe. She was also a volunteer at the Raymond Penny Wise thrift store, a lifetime member of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of the Ladies Aid of the Willapa United Methodist Church. She had 18 grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild, along with several nieces and nephews she adored. Wanda enjoyed spending time with all of them when she could. She loved them all and they loved her. She also loved her cousins and enjoyed catching up with them from time to time. Everything she did, she did well. She was classy, caring, nurturing and was loved by all who knew her. She will be missed dearly. Wanda was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd “Dick” Taylor; two brothers, Houston Truman Wood, Raymond Sanford Wood; three sisters, Maxine Fay (Wood) Andersen, Alta Lee (Wood) McKenzie, and Lena Laverne (Wood) Barnett. She is survived by a sister, Syble Verlane (Wood) Osler of Shelby, Montana; four sons, Terry (Shelley) Stark of Raymond, Washington, Scott (Charlotte) Taylor of Phoenix, Arizona, Mike Taylor of Brewster, Washington, Tim (Sonya) Taylor of Brewster, Washington; two daughters, Andrea “Andi” Laramie of Olympia, Washington, and Hyla (George) Bean of Woodinville, Washington. Please leave memories of Wanda or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.