Obituary of Etta Mae Taylor

November 9, 1933 – Manor, Saskatchewan

February 7, 2023 - Cochrane, Alberta

 

Etta Taylor (nee Butson), of Cochrane, AB, passed away on Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at the age of 89 years.

 

Etta was born in Manor, Saskatchewan on November 9, 1933, and was raised on the family farm as generations had before her. Once out in the working world she met Murray Taylor who also had recently left the farm, and together they settled in Lloydminster, bought a little house that needed some fixing, and started a family. In the early years came Brian, then David, and finally Michael arrived making Etta a very busy Mum who still managed to get the family out for adventure.

 

Around 1960, times got tough for Murray’s employer the Exelsior Petroleum Refinery and Murray found new opportunity at Sherritt Gordon Mines, re-settling the family in Fort Saskatchewan. In the first year, they lived in a basement suite, scrimped, and saved to where they were able to buy an acreage in Bruderheim where the family thrived. Etta and Murray fixed up the old farmhouse, and with all hands put to work, the acreage was soon a growing concern.

 

Etta was a kind taskmaster and somehow motivated the boys out to the acres of garden, leading by example, gentle suggestion, and the promise of exceptional meals thanks to Mum, the land, and Bossy the cow. Favorite days were Sundays when family sat around the table and watched Mum cook away the afternoons with non-stop deep fried potato chips and shifts cranking the ice cream maker.

 

The kids were grown and starting their own families when Etta and Murray parted, and both eventually remarried. Etta came to know George Sime while working at the McLeod’s Hardware in Fort Saskatchewan. They married and George, a larger-than-life character, propelled them from adventure to adventure. From Fort Saskatchewan, to Ross Haven, to Cabo San Lucas, to Pointe Aux Pins, to Moon River Estates and berry farming on the Belly River flats, Etta and George toiled, loved, and cherished their homes and all that came to visit.

 

Etta accumulated friends from far and wide and, once befriended, it was friends for life. Wherever situated, Etta found the time to connect with friends and family.

 

Despite her summers made busy with the acres of grass and planting, she found the time for long motor home trips back to visit family in Saskatchewan and to Bruderheim for catch up with the kids and grandkids.

 

It was especially important to Etta that she host Christmas Eves surrounded by family. Her wonderfully eccentric choice in gifts were always a delightful surprise.

 

Etta was serious about her photography, always having a camera in hand to capture memories she cherished.

 

She loved nature. Birds were a special favorite. Anything with a bird in it was more than likely going to bought and added to her “Hoard.”

 

She enjoyed gardening, long walks, and sound investments. She loved a good romance movie. If she could have Christmas romance movies played all year, she would have never left her chair in front of the television!

 

She will be remembered for her love of books, her stories of Mexico trips and shopping. She had an eye for catalogue shopping before online shopping was the norm. If she saw something in the paper or a magazine that reminded her of you, or she thought you’d like it, she’d clip it and mail it.

 

From Michael, "Mom was always a car girl. Through the years she drove many nice cars. Her favorite was always her Thunderbird. I remember stopping in at the cruise night in Cochrane with her. She loved this one particular car. A white 57 Thunderbird Roadster. She kept going back to have a look at it. The owner was a member  of the local car club and during the summer, they came to the lodge many times much to Mom's delight. We talked cars a lot and I will always keep those conversations close to my heart”

 

From David, “I have not forgotten the day I watched Mum strap on her helmet, mount her Honda 50 Cub, and motorcycle away to her appointment in Lamont. It was an important first step toward her driving independence, I was so proud of her gumption”.

 

From Brian, “What I loved the most about Mum was her gentle wisdom and open mind, especially about health matters. She was always reading Prevention magazine to find out what was new. I learned about the chi machine, far infrared therapy, pulsed magnetic therapy, and she loved ozone water. She taught me how to bake, she taught me how to make sauerkraut. Mom loved to learn and passed that gift to me as well. Mom was a wonderful parent, which is a job that comes with not much training! In my opinion, Mom was the greatest Mom in the world!”

 

She will be most remembered for her generous, gentle nature and a genuinely disarming smile.

 

Etta is survived by her sons Brian, David (Jacqueline) and Michael (Shari); grandchildren Eric, Lindsey, Runhildr, and Gary; and great-grandchildren, Jade and Laine. She is predeceased by her parents, Kenneth and Sara Butson; siblings Lloyd, Ed, and Gertie; and husbands, Murray Taylor and George Sime.

 

A private family service will be held at a later date.

 

In living memory of Etta Taylor, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Cochrane, 369 Railway Street, Cochrane, AB T4C 2E2, Telephone: 403-932-4740.