Margaret (Johnston) Taylor

Margaret was born on February 12, 1925, to William Henry Johnston and Euphemia Cecily (Alford) Johnston. She was the first daughter and the third oldest of six children. She graduated high school in Manitoba before moving to marry our dad Glen Borden Taylor 1st on August 15, 1943. They were happily married for 46 years.

Mom was first and foremost a mother, protector, and teacher. In the early years there were hard times. She and dad put together our family band, “The Silver Tones” to help with income for the family. We normally played for weddings and weekend dances, although; she never played an instrument, she was always at the door collecting money. All the young adults that came to the dance always called them “Maw and Paw” and spent a lot of time on the farm.

Mom’s first job was a dishwasher for the Rimbey Hotel. Our sister Bev talked her into taking it. When the cook did not come in for work, mom told Bill Rude she could do the job. This was when her cooking career started. She never looked back. She worked for many successful restaurants as the head cook/chef in Red Deer. She also had a distinguished career in sales, receiving numerous trips around North America for top salesperson.

When mom no longer wanted to cook in restaurants she started cooking in camps; she was the head cook and dad as her campy.

Mom’s largest tenure was her business with her son-in-law Larry. They went to work everyday in Wetaskiwin, and sometimes Leduc and Red Deer. No one knows how successful they were, but they weren’t quitters. The last years she spent a lot of time getting her hair and nails done. She took a lot of pride in her appearance. Everyone who knew mother, knew she was not just a pretty face; her heart matched her. She was beautiful inside and out. She would have moved heaven and earth for any of her children or grandchildren. Mom’s greatest legacy was having all of us kids, and raising us to be strong, independent, compassionate people.  

Margaret Cecily Euphemia Johnston Taylor passed away in her youngest daughter’s (Dianne Hart) home at 6:00 a.m. on December 27, 2021.

Mom lived on her own up until the accident with her walker resulted in a broken shattered collar/shoulder.  The injury was so severe that it could not be fixed, so we all felt it best for her to come home for the holidays.

Mom was predeceased by her husband Glen Borden Taylor; her sons Donnie, William “Bill” Taylor, Fred Carson, and Ross Hart; daughter-in-law Dallas Taylor; her grandson Glen Borden III; and her granddaughter Quanah Janine Mercredi.  Mom was the last survivor of the Johnston clan, predeceased by Uncle Hank, Uncle Al, Uncle Ed, Uncle Jim, and Aunty Jean.

Mom is survived by her sons Glen Borden II and Alfred & Mary; her daughters Shirley & Stu Fetterley, Beverly Carson, Lorraine & Larry Gustafson, Bonnie & Monty Trimble, and Dianne Hart; daughter-in-law Karen Taylor; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; many many great-great-grandchildren; plus numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

A Funeral Service to celebrate Margaret's life will be held at the Ponoka Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 20, 2022 with a Memorial Reception following at the Ponoka Drop In Centre.  After the reception, there will be a procession leaving Ponoka Funeral Home travelling to the Red Deer Cemetery where mom will be laid to rest with dad (Glen Taylor) and their infant son Donnie.

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