Sharon Taylor

It is with deep sadness that the family of Sharon (Shay) Lee Taylor announce her passing on December 8, 2024 at the age of 75 in Wapato, WA. Her story was one gone full circle. Shay was born in Wapato, WA, June 9, 1949, to Harry and Beverly Dillman. She graduated from Wapato High School in 1967. Perhaps being the oldest of her household siblings, growing up in a small farm town, getting found out when her mom did the laundry that she was “cleaning her plate” into her pockets too often, or simply having wild oats to sow, she left town right after high school with William (Mike) Watts to Phoenix, AZ where they married a few months later. After a little over 2 years of marriage, she and William divorced. Shay would stay in Arizona for a total of 16 years. In 1972, she married Robert (Bob) Golden Jr., and had her two and only children a few years later. Job opportunity moved the family to Albuquerque, New Mexico, around 1983. She and Robert divorced in 1984. At some point while Shay was in Arizona, she began a relationship with God through the teachings of The Worldwide Church of God, today known as the Philadelphia Church of God. It is at this church especially that she formed many decades-long lasting friendships, in every place she lived. Her sons easily recall going to church every week and mom praying and studying at home very often and marking her Bible with a highlighter and pen. Shay was studious, indeed. A master note taker. She’d admit her walk with God wasn’t perfect, but it was often straight and true. During this time of her life, Shay was a secretary that ran most aspects of the office of a small HVAC company including all accounting, she ran her own full-time business as a home typist (typing letters, resumes, school papers, etc), and her favorite all time job lasting 13 years, working with 16mm and 35mm microfilm for Ace Photo of Phoenix and Albuquerque Blueprint, where she noted on her resume, “This was my favorite job … I very much enjoyed the variety and physical aspects.” In 1988, after speaking at length with her parents and friends about it, Shay moved herself and her sons back home in Washington to be near family. Shay resided in Union Gap and Yakima. It was here that she enjoyed 2 great jobs. One was working at the downtown Yakima Library for 9 years. She was often the first person to touch a new book, and therefore the first person to read it too! Reading was easily her favorite hobby. Over her lifetime, she must have read thousands of books. She would often finish a book in one or two days. Her favorite were murder mystery and some horror, much like her taste in TV and movies, like Columbo. The other job she enjoyed was that of a newspaper carrier, delivering the morning Yakima Herald Republic! She didn’t go looking for this job but happened into it and fell in love with it. The pride she took in it is obvious by the many, many notes and cards from her subscribers over 9 years of her doing it! “Thank you, amazing, faithful, best ever!” She was so thoughtful to the point of placement of a subscriber’s paper so that it is easy to reach each morning and keeping track of who’s away and when they’ll return so papers don’t pile up outside. She even commuted from Wapato to do her Yakima routes, picking up her morning papers as early as 3am, and preparing them by rubber banding each one or bagging them in her car prior to delivery. Surprisingly, she was only carrier of the month one time – at least that we’ve found proof of! Shay had routes from 1997 to 2005. Known routes were of the Lake Aspen Apartments on River Road and a grid between 26th Ave, 29th Ave, Summitview, and Lincoln Ave. It was at the Lake Aspen Apartments, on her paper route and while living there, in 1997, that in Shay’s recorded words, she “met her soulmate”, Alan Taylor – who had also gone to Wapato High School with Shay 30 years prior! On January 1, 1998, they were married, in 2001 they moved back to Wapato, and the circle of Shay’s life was complete. Besides reading a ton and jobs she enjoyed, Shay loved a good puzzle or game. Puzzles from crosswords to jigsaw pieces. In fact, she has left for us 127 completed puzzles on the house walls! We couldn’t ever get her completely on the Internet, but she had 5 Kindles she read books from and put some serious time into game console games like Bomberman, and tablet games like Bejeweled and Candy Crush. At one time she was playing candy crush games on multiple devices at the same time! Shay was also a mail order queen – and we’re not talking Amazon. From Fingerhut back in the day, to all kinds of catalog mail order sources, from Blair to Omaha Steaks, and all kinds of herbal supplements in-between. We’d be sorely remiss if we didn’t mention frogs. Shay loved frogs. Frog coffee cups, frog souvenirs, frog decorations, frog note pads, even a frog license plate frame on her beloved Honda Civic. Yes, there are also frog jigsaw puzzles on the walls! Shay was a cheerful person, and many have said, a bit of a nut. She had a silly/happy/surprised look she would do often that would light up a room, and she was so thoughtful and giving. Even when finances were tight, she would often find ways to give to others: some random thing she already had, a note, or a good deed. It is truly astonishing how she always made enough out of so little. Shay also had great strength, resolve, and will. Even some of the closest of us to her agree that we could not endure and stand as steadfast as she did on things. Of course, along with that resolve was stubbornness too. When Shay felt a certain way or believed a certain thing, it could be almost impossible to sway her differently. But she was right often! Shay was meticulous and well planned. The arrangements for this time were made and prepaid for years ago by herself. Shay was adamant that no public service be held, and her arrangements be honored. The family just asks that when you think of her, do something for someone that you love. That is what Shay would want. When told “I love you”, Shay would often reply “I love you more.” Well, Shay… Mom… we love YOU more! Thank you for being a great friend, partner, and mom! We so dearly miss you, but know you are now resting peacefully until what is next. Shay is survived by her husband of almost 26 years Alan Taylor, two children, Richard Golden, Lonnie (Katie) Golden, four grandchildren, Alex, Ciara, Julia, and Andrew, three siblings, Harry (Connie) Dillman, Linda (Ron) Hankel, Randy (Lori) Dillman. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Beverly Dillman, two siblings, Lonnie Dillman, Floyd Dillman. Arrangements by Valley Hills Funeral Home, Wapato. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Sharon Taylor, please visit our flower store.