Joan Taylor

Joan Marie Taylor nee Noonan was born July 15, 1933, in Klamath Falls, Oregon to Michael and Katherine Noonan. She left her earthly home on March 10, 2024, under home hospice care surrounded by loving members of her family just as she was surrounded and loved by them her entire life.

Our mother was known in Merrill, Oregon her hometown, by almost everyone. She grew up there and was valedictorian of Merrill High School. She married Fred Taylor the fall after graduation on September 29, 1951.  Joan and Fred worked hard to raise their family of 11 children. They always had a house full of family, her children’s friends and later the spouses and children of their children and of course their grandchildren.

Mom was a contributor to her church, St. Augustine Catholic Church in Merrill. She was in the Altar Society and did Sunday school, cleaning of the church and preparations for the Holy Days, church dinners and events. She fully embraced her Irish Catholic faith and heritage.

Mom worked as a school cook at both Merrill Elementary and then Lost River High School. She had a kind smile and good food for each child that came through the cafeterias. She was a sports fan from little league to major league baseball, volleyball, basketball, football and track events that she attended with our dad and later with her children. She loved to support her “kids” in all their events: sports, choir and school programs of all kinds. Mom and dad instilled in us a sense of kindness, understanding and acceptance of everyone.

Mom liked to travel to places where her children moved. They went to Washington DC and the Smithsonian museums. All museums along any trip were a big draw. In New Jersey they lucked upon a concert by her cousin Paddy Noonan. Mom went to Italy with her sister Pat and had a blast. The trip of a lifetime was her trip to Ireland with her sisters Eileen, Pat and Peggy and their spouses. She met many cousins and learned about her Irish heritage.

Mom was preceded in death by her husband Fred, her parents, her siblings Bill Noonan, Eileen Reynolds, Patsy Hubbard, and Peggy Wolfram. She was also preceded in death by her children Mitch, Nancy Franz, Cecelia, Jim and Molly.

She is survived by her Children; Katie Melich (Rob), Bill Taylor (Mary), Joannie Hawkins (Kenny), Sally Taylor (Rick Anderson), Anne Williams (Ben), and Tom Taylor (Cindy Taylor-Cowen). There are also 22 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren. There are countless nieces, nephews and their families and an entire community that will miss Grandma Taylor.

Services will be at St Augustine Church, 905 East Front St. Merrill; recitation of the rosary at 10:00, Funeral service and Mass at 10:30 internment will be at Mt Calvary Cemetery, 330 Pine Grove Rd, Klamath Falls, Oregon. There will be a viewing at O’Hair-Wards Funeral Chapel on Friday 3:30-4:30.

Donations may be made to: St. Augustine Church, PO Box 340, Merrill, Oregon, 97633; or to Bristol Hospice, 2210 Shallock Ave., Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601; or to: Michael Hawkins Memorial Scholarship Fund, PO Box 819, Merrill, Or, 97633.