Majel Taylor

Majel Rae Taylor, 83, passed away Friday, November 8, 2019 at Taylor House Hospice. She was born August 30, 1936 to Ardath and Vera (Seiberling) Churchill in Mitchellville.

Majel graduated from Mitchellville High School and attended Comptometer School in Des Moines in 1954. She married James Taylor in 1957 and they lived in Germany for a year and half while he served in the Army. During this time, she travelled extensively throughout Europe and treasured this experience her whole life.

Once they returned to Iowa, Majel followed Jim’s work transfers, living in Des Moines, Grand Island, NE, and Mt. Pleasant. In 1965, Majel and Jim settled in Mitchellville where they raised their children in the house they built. Majel felt so blessed to be able to live in that house up until her death.

Majel was a floral designer for many years, using her talents at Taylors Flowers in Altoona and Altoona Floral. She was a bookkeeper for MCC Software from 1979 to 2018.

Majel had many hobbies and interests including working outside in her flower gardens, making quilts and crafts for craft fairs and for her grandchildren, playing Bridge, bowling, golfing, and playing basketball. Majel also enjoyed refinishing antique family furniture and making t-shirt quilts for the family. She was an accomplished seamstress and made her own wedding dress. This same dress, with some alterations, was worn by Deb for her wedding. Majel also made bridesmaids dress and many other dresses throughout the years.

Majel was a 4-H member, winning several sewing honors at the Iowa State Fair. She was a Troop Leader for Girl Scouts, member of the Mitchellville First Congregational Church and My Brother’s Keeper Quilting Group. Majel took a cake decorating class and began baking cakes for weddings, graduations, and birthdays.

Majel continued to be active her whole life. She looked forward to her yearly travel trips with her cousin, Donna, and friends and joined her long time bowling friends each month for dinner. One of her favorite events was gathering her children and grandchildren the first weekend of December to make Christmas candy, especially different kinds of chocolates.

Majel is survived by her children, Debra (Daniel) DeBoef and Dan (Deanna) Taylor; grandchildren, Ashley VanHaaften, Alexander DeBoef, Dakota Taylor, and Dallen Taylor; great-grandchildren, Barrett, Finley, and Izabella; brother, Dennis (Toni) Churchill; sister, Audrey (Bill) Bisby; sister-in-law, Susan Churchill; and a host of other family and beloved friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Harley Main, Norman Jerry, and Arthur LeRoy; and former spouse, Jim.

The family will greet friends from 5 p.m. to 7p.m. Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at Hamilton’s Mitchellville Funeral Home, 303 Center Street. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at First Congregational Church in Mitchellville, 211 Park Ave. NE with burial to follow at Mitchellville Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Taylor House Hospice or the Mitchellville Community Center.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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