Donna Marion Taylor

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Donna Marion Taylor (nee Gatez). Donna passed away peacefully on Monday, July 7, 2025, in Olds AB, at the age of 93 years, surrounded by family. Donna was predeceased by her beloved husband, Gordon of Calgary AB, in October 2020. Donna is survived by her two sons, Dwayne (Malou) of Olds AB, and Wes (Roxanne) of Calgary AB; and three grandchildren, Amanda, Ryan (Lauren), and Carmi. As well, Malou’s sister Yvonne was a special person in mom’s life. Donna is also survived by her brother Gerald (Linda) Gatez, of Crossfield AB; her nephew Blaine (Laura) Gatez, and niece, Lana (Peter) Cissell. Donna had a very special relationship with her brother Gerald and his wife Linda, who was more like a sister than sister-in-law. After their mother passed away when Gerald was still in high school, Donna spent weekends cooking and cleaning to make sure her Dad and Gerald had clean clothes and a good meal. Their lifelong bond was remarkable. She was extremely proud and protective of all. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, beloved sister, aunt, and friend to all. She will be forever loved and missed.

Donna was born in Calgary, AB on January 24, 1932, and grew up on the family farm in the Delacour area. She attended a small one room school to begin her education, and as Gerald recalls, her dad Alec would take her to school leading a pony for mom to ride on. When the school closed, she moved to a school in Kathryn to finish through to grade 12. After high school, Donna went on to Business School in Calgary and then entered the work force.

She met Gordon the old-fashioned way, at the soda fountain of a little convenience store that her Aunt Lizzy worked at in Bridgeland, Calgary. Donna married Gordon in August of 1954. They lived with Donna’s grandma until they settled into the house in Tuxedo (Calgary) that Gordon built in 1958, a house they still have to this day. Amanda now lives there and takes care of that very special house. Gordon was the love of her life, and they were always doing things together during their sixty-six-year marriage. Donna supported Gordon in every way, including watching him during his race car years, not an easy task! Her greatest attribute may very well be letting Gordon, be Gordon. They raised their children, and entertained family and many friends in that loving home through sixty plus years. They enjoyed a close relationship with a very tight group of very special friends, and with close-knit family members.

Donna spent most of her work career balancing being a stay-at-home mom looking after ‘her two boys’ (well, three counting our Dad!) and working in the appliance supply/repair industry. She started her career with Westinghouse Appliances and finished with Castle Appliance Repairs. Along the way, she also worked at the Bonar & Bemis bag company, as well as a couple brief stops in-between.

The Calgary Stampede was an event that Donna really enjoyed, including all the pancake breakfasts all over the city. Often family members would come to town, and they enjoyed attending the Stampede with friends and family and of course taking her two boys to enjoy the event together. She also loved to play bingo, and in fact won the very first family television, a rather large black and white cabinet TV playing bingo at the Stampede. That was a real piece of furniture! She also enjoyed watching curling and cheering on her Flames (just to bug Dad I think!). She was also an avid supporter of Amanda and Ryan growing up, including babysitting Amanda for a period of time while Roxanne was back at work. Amanda and Ryan were always involved in various sports, including hockey, ringette, and lacrosse. Grandma would never miss a game, although at times having to ‘look away’ when the rough stuff started. ‘Hey, don’t hit my kid’ she would yell! As Carmi entered her life, she also enjoyed the accomplished piano playing of Carmi when Dwayne and Malou could record her performances and send a video or perhaps attend a recital. She was so proud of her grandchildren.

Donna loved family vacations and camping, and the family spent many early years enjoying Skaha Beach in Penticton, BC. She loved to watch her family play in the water and enjoying the summer beach days during those vacation years. Later, in 1969/70, Gordon built a ten-foot truck camper in his workshop so they could travel to the States, visit Disneyland, and continue camping in the summer at various beaches. The camper was eventually traded in for a bigger trailer, and some great camping trips and stories were enjoyed with a close group of friends and family. Gordon and Donna loved to take those vacations, and camping, both during the working years of her career and into retirement. Camping trips and vacations always included her amazing fried chicken and potato salad, both were delicious! Wes and Roxanne also bought a motorhome and joined in on the many camp trips with their kids, with Dwayne popping in here and there. Many other destination vacations were taken with special friends and close family as well, including Hawaii, Barbados, Mexico, Dominican Republic, bus trips including Nashville, and a Caribbean cruise. They also enjoyed an Alaskan cruise and month-long trip to Australia and New Zealand with Gerald and Linda.

Donna always took great pride in her appearance, and of course it always included a blue ensemble. There is also no doubt of mom’s favorite color, it is blue, blue, and more blue! Clothes, furniture, wall color, decorations, etc, you name it, mom wanted blue! In fact, when Dad was able to afford a second form of family transportation, wouldn’t you know it, he gave mom an ‘ol used blue Corvair! We even took that car on vacations to Skaha Beach a few times.

Malou also spent countless hours looking in on mom, taking her for bi-weekly hair appointments after dad passed, and constantly doing her nails. Mom was very proud of the job Malou would do and how she looked and always got compliments from the other residents in Olds Encore, Malou was a pro!

Donna was an amazing cook and baker. On the kitchen counter, she always had a container of her much loved and ‘never to be duplicated’ chocolate chip cookies that everyone loved and always looked for when they came to her home. Many people also tried to copy her delicious German chocolate cake, but no one could ever make it quite like she could, (secret, it was that ‘special pan’!). Holidays always included her Flapper pie, and her unique German heritage dishes of Apple Kuga, Kraut Kuga, and Schwarzbrut bread. Many celebrated occasions also had Gordon helping her grind meat and potatoes for her special version of German Gehacktes, a dish Ryan still likes to make today for certain special occasions.

Donna had a couple favourite sayings, such as ‘Let me tell you…’, or ‘I’ll decide…’ usually when you were in trouble (lol), and ‘It is what it is’ when things happened good or bad that she just had to roll with. She will always be remembered as an amazing wife, mom, and gramma. Donna was predeceased by her parents, Alexander and Mary of Delacour. The family also lost an infant daughter, Geraldine, shortly after birth.

The family would also like to thank the incredible staff of the Seasons Olds Encore Retirement Home, including her good friend Patsy, where Donna spent 2 plus years living, as well as the amazing staff of the Olds Hospital for their care and compassion, who took very special care of mom during her last days of life. A celebration of life will be determined at a later date.