Arlene Mae Taylor

Arlene Mae (Kiefer) Taylor passed away peacefully on September 11, 2018.  She had seen and enjoyed so much during her 93 years, but it was simply time to leave this life, join her husband Jim, and start a whole new experience.  She is survived by her children Susan (Lynn) Miller, Greg (Sara) Taylor, Anne (Mark) Lane; grandchildren Heather (Pat) Birkbeck, Hilary Taylor, Ben Taylor, Jared Lane; and great-grandchildren Lauren Kate Birbeck and Alex Birbeck. 

Arlene was born in Perrysburg, Ohio on April 1, and of course had to put up with never-ending comments and unusual gifts because of that date.  She received her teaching degree from Bowling Green University and taught in the Sylvania Public Schools in Ohio from 1946 to 1950. Arlene and Jim were married in 1947, and having previously visited friends in Colorado, they decided that it would be a great place to live.  Where in Colorado? They didn’t know, and that didn’t stop them. They packed their belongings, hitched a mobile home to their truck, and headed out west to start their adventure. The Flying Saucer Trailer Court in Englewood, Colorado became their new home, but the adventure started in a stressful way.  Jim was diagnosed with TB as a result of overseas deployment during WWII, and had to spend a few years in the hospital, leaving Arlene to deal with two young children (Sue and Greg) while working at the USGS in Denver. She was a strong-willed woman, so this was “one of those things that you just dealt with.”  

When Jim returned home, life settled into a wonderful routine of raising children, taking trips into the mountains, waxing the trailer (they did!!), and enjoying life.  With the birth of Anne, the small mobile home became a tad crowded, so it was time to move, and they ended up in their home on Cherokee St. in Englewood where they lived the rest of their lives.  Arlene raised her children to be independent, then went back to work, first as a teacher’s aide in the Englewood schools and then as a salesperson at Englewood Press. During her free time, Arlene made her home’s yards a paradise with an everchanging display of flowers and, of course, her favorites- the roses.  Her lawn was the envy of the neighborhood – lush and green and weed-less. Even in her last days, she was adamant about making sure the lawn was watered, and the plants thinned. How many people do you know who cultivate the alley behind the backyard fence with flowers and vegetables? Right now, as you read this, there probably is some rhubarb that is ready to pick.   And speaking of rhubarb, her dinner table was an everchanging feast as the number of cookbooks and recipes in the kitchen closet can attest.

Her children would like to thank the staff at Swedish Hospital and Porter Place for taking care of her and making her comfortable.  

If you would like to make a donation, please do so at https://flourish.botanicgardens.org/botanicgardensgiving.  There is a “tribute line” where donors can indicate that the gift is in memory of Arlene.  

A memorial service will be held at All Souls Catholic Church (4950 S Logan St) on Friday, October 5 at 11:00 am, followed by interment at Ft Logan National Cemetery.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Arlene Mae Taylor, please visit our floral store.