Dear Family and Friends:

I have had a great life, wonderful family and friends, and fabulous adventures and experiences. I was born on May 22, 1928 in Gastonia, North Carolina to Jean (Kelloway) and Harvey Taylor. When I was about 4, we moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. When I was 15, we moved to Powel River, British Columbia. Half way through my senior year in high school we moved to Port Alberni, British Columbia.I attended the University of British Columbia where I studied Home Economics and later, the University of Washington where I studied Anthropology and Library Science.

In 1949, I married my high school sweetheart, Richard Gritten and moved to Connecticut, where Richard worked for Traveler's Insurance.While there, we had three children, Robert, Cynthia, and Diana.

In January 1955 we moved to Seattle, Washington where Richard was employed by the Boeing Company. We bought property on Vashon Island, Washington in 1956, built our home in 1962 and raised our three children. I loved my house on the beach.

In 1976 we moved to Johannesburg, and later, to Pretoria, South Africa, where Richard worked for the Boeing Company. Diana joined us in South Africa and we spent weeks on Mother-Daughter adventures a" we drove around in the national parks and wildlife preserves watching African animals.Elephants stampeding around our little car was pretty scary. We returned to Vashon Island in 1978. In 1983 we moved to Addis Abba, Ethiopia, where Richard also worked for Boeing.While in Addis Abba, I taught women with leprosy how to embroider. In 1985, we returned to our home on Vashon Island.

I lost Richard 1993. I missed him terribly and had to continue my life adventures without him.

Over the years Robert helped me in more ways than I can describe. He kept me supplied with firewood, cleared trees that fell across the road, mowed my lawn, and visited often.

In 2001 Diana and I took a two-week cruise down the Amazon River and back to Florida through the Caribbean.My favorite stop was the French penal colony known as Devil's Island.

In 2003, Cynthia and I took a wonderful week-long cruise to Hawaii.I really liked seeing the tropical flowers, they reminded me of South Africa.

I loved going to the Seattle Reparatory Theatre and the Seattle Symphony. When my grandchildren were in college and couldn't afford to go to the symphony, I gave them my tickets.

In addition to traveling all over the world with Richard, I enjoyed many activities including: gardening, sewing and quilting.I belonged to the Poverty Bay Power Squadron and was Treasurer for the Quarter Master Yacht Club and the Church of the Holy Spirit Mary Martha Guild. I was a Girl Scout and a Girl Scout Leader. I volunteered in the Chataqua Elementary School "Help One Student to Succeed (HOST) Program and at the Senior Center Time Out Program. I spent many years mending text books by hand for the Vashon School District and was known as the "Book Lady".

My parents, Jean and Harvey Taylor and my brother Alex Taylor preceded me in death.

I am survived by my sister Carolyn Taylor Bryne and my brother George Taylor; my three children Robert Gritten (Lydia), Cynthia Wood (Jim), and Diana MacDonald (Dave); my grandchildren Tara Gritten, Bruce Gritten, Rozalyna Gritten, Margaret Gritten, Daniel MacDonald, and Barbara MacDonald; and my great grandchildren Destiny Drake, Blake Gritten, Lucas Gritten and Kailee Gritten.

I wish to express my sincere appreciation for all you, my family and friends, for joining me on my wonderful journey through life.As I enter the next chapter, I would like to leave you all with one thought a" always say Thank You.

Please help celebrate my life:

Sunday December 7, 2014

3:00 pm

Church of the Holy Spirit

15420 Vashon Hwy SW

Vashon Washington