Gladys Taylor

Funeral Service for Gladys Taylor, 102, of Polson, MT formerly of Ekalaka, MT will be at 10:00 a. m. on Friday, August 17, 2012 in the Chapel of Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka. Interment will follow in Beaver Lodge Cemetery at Ekalaka. Visitation will be 5:00 p. m. to 8:00 pm. on Thursday, August 16th at Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka. Gladys passed away on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at Lake View Care Center in Bigfork, MT. Gladys was born May 21, 1910 on the family farm near Mott, ND. She and her twin brother, Glen Willkom, were the youngest of nine children born to John and Alice (Sweaney) Willkom. She grew up during the depression but said they never lacked for food because of living on the farm. However, Gladys said she had to wear her brothers? hand-me-down clothes and finally got her first new clothes when she was nearly entering high school. Although the farm was only seven miles from Mott, she made her first trip to town when she was six years old. Life was tough during her early years, relating how the winters were so bad some years her father would string ropes to the barn and outhouse so he and her brothers could find their way to do farm work during the severe winter storms that would cause whiteouts. The family also had to deal with an occasional tornado, which destroyed at least one neighbor?s house and killed a member of that family. Gladys attended school in Mott and graduated from Mott High School. She received an athletic letter for playing basketball at the high school, of which she was proud of since many girls didn?t play sports at that time. She also participated in area baseball games with her seven brothers. Gladys loved sports and was in attendance at many high school events during her years in Ekalaka and during her final years was proud that she had her ?special seat? at Bulldog basketball games. She also loved the Chicago Bulls, with her favorite players being Michael Jordan and Scotty Pippen. Another Chicago favorite was the Cubs, with Sammy Sosa being her favorite player. Gladys met Tom C. Taylor and the two were married on July 3, 1936 in Mott, ND. Following their marriage, Gladys and Tom moved to western Montana where he worked for the Whitefish Pilot for several years. With the war over, Tom wanted a paper of his own. According to an article in the Eagle in 1946, a chance encounter in the Florence Hotel between Leo Symmas and G. M. Moss during a state press convention in Missoula resulted in Tom getting the word the Eagle was for sale. So in 1946 they purchased the Eagle, which Tom and Gladys owned and operated, until selling it to Brice and Lois Lambert in 1985. After Tom retired, Gladys served as publisher until the paper was sold. Gladys and Tom moved to Fresno, CA and lived with their son, Bryson, and daughter-in-law, Bonnie for three years and then returned to Ekalaka. She resided there until moving to Polson four years ago to live with Bryson and Bonnie due to failing health. She had been in the nursing home about five months at the time of her death. Gladys was a longtime member of the Ekalaka Bible Church and looked forward to Bible studies each week. Among her fondest memories were the many scratch card games with Wally and Cheryl Fox and her many friends who stopped by to participate in the card games. She also appreciated very much all the help she received from Wally and Cheryl and all the residents of Ekalaka during the 15 years prior to moving to Polson. Gladys is survived by her son, Bryson Taylor of Polson, MT; daughter, Rena Rae Brown of Bozeman, MT; six grandchildren, Roxanne, Loralee, Brett, Toni, Tatia and Tammi; and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Alice; her husband, Tom; a son, Tom Jr, who died at birth; seven brothers, Lawrence, Fred, Allen, Herman, Glen, Johnny and Merle; and a sister, Eva. Memorials may be made to the Ekalaka Bible Church?s building fund or the Carter Charter.


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Burial Date: August 17, 2012
Funeral Home Ekalaka, MT

Funeral: Friday, Stevenson Funeral Home, Ekalaka, MT