Dolores Evelyn Taylor

Dolores Evelyn Taylor passed away peacefully in the company of her family on March 14, 2016.

Dolores was born November 15, 1923 in Des Moines, the daughter of VJ and Selma Peterson. For some time she was an only child but was delighted by the addition of an adopted sister, Mabel. Dolores graduated from East High School in 1941 and Drake University in 1945 with a degree in business.

She met Donald Taylor in elementary school and they remained sweethearts all through middle school and high school. They were married March 15, 1944 while Don was in pilot training for the Army Air Corp. Donald’s plane was shot down in November of 1944 and was missing in action until May of 1945 when he surprised Dolores on the day of her graduation from Drake.

She and Don raised their family of three sons and a daughter in their beloved East Des Moines. Dolores was an active member of Union Park Methodist Church for more than 50 years. She volunteered for many years at the Blank Hospital Guild and gift shop. She enjoyed bridge, tennis and golf, both in Des Moines and Florida with friends and family. Not surprisingly though, her first love was family as the grandmother to 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. In her final years, it was often the silliness and joy of her great-grandchildren that brought the biggest smile to her face.

Dolores and Don were proud of their contribution to the development of Unity Point Hospice (Taylor House) in East Des Moines. It was fitting that Dolores enjoyed the same loving, compassionate end of life care for which Taylor House is well known as she passed away. The family is especially grateful to all the Taylor House staff and the Edgewater Beacon Spring staff, not only for their loving care of Dolores but the hundreds of other patients they have served over the years.

Dolores is survived by her children, Don Jr. (Nancy), Steve (Sue), Bob, and Lori (Jaime) Zachar; twelve grandchildren, Stephanie (John) Burnett, Scott (Brandy) Taylor, Cyndi (Mike) DeMaio, Megan (Kyle) Elfers, Kevin (Leah) Taylor, Debbie (Nick) Plagge, Brian (Rachel) Taylor, Taylor (Carissa), Nick, Kaitlyn, Sydney, and Patrick Zachar; nineteen great-grandchildren; sister, Mabel Wickstrom; sisters-in-law, Marilyn Sweeney, and Shirley and Joyce Taylor. She was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Donald; her parents; brothers-in-law, Charles and Harold Taylor and James Sweeney.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Unity Point Taylor House Hospice, 1415 Woodland Avenue, Suite E-200, Des Moines, IA 50309. Condolences may be expressed online at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

Services will be held at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines on Wednesday, March 23, 2016 with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines.

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