Gladys Maime Taylor
May 31st, 2015
TAYLOR, Gladys M.
Gladys Maime Taylor was born on June 25 1917 in Swan River Manitoba and passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2015 at the Bethany Care Centre in Airdrie, AB at the age 97 years.
She leaves to mourn her children, Dennis (Jackie), Lorne (Cathy) and Susan (Fred) Denischuk; grandchildren, Jessica, Brett, Mark, Nathan, Christy, Blake, Melanie; along with great grandchildren, Sydney, Brandon, Merritt, Alexander, Ella and Lilly. She was predeceased by her husband, Lorne and son, Barry.
A teacher by profession she joined the Canadian Women’s Army Corps in 1943 and served until the end of the war. Gladys was an award winning author who had won many awards in her distinguished career but was most proud of winning the Ryerson Press Award given to the best novels of the year. She won this award twice for her first two novels Pine Roots and The King Tree. Her other novels included Alone In The Outback, Valinda Our Daughter and Alone In The Boardroom. Her Outback book was made into a movie called Over The Hill starring Olympia Dukasis. Valinda was the story of a Beiseker girl and her son killed in a terriost attack in Malta. Gladys wrote a weekly column for the Toronto Telegram and also appeared on many television and radio programs throughout her career and hosted her own TV program in Sherbrooke Quebec. During 1989 Gladys ran for the Canadian Senate in the first senate election held in Alberta. She received the most votes of all the independent candidates. Gladys also started several recreational vehicle consumer and industry magazines during the 1970’s. These were subsequently moved to Irricana Alberta along with her printing company. This allowed her, along with her children, to also begin several weekly newspapers including The Five Village Weekly (now Rockyview Weekly) and The Carstairs Courier. During this time other newspapers were also established for areas including Carbon, Trochu and Airdrie. Also at this time the flagship farm newspaper The Wheel and Deal was first established for Alberta and later expanded to Saskatchewan and Manitoba. In 1983 Gladys was named Calgary’s “Businesswoman Of The Year “Recently the town of Irricana named its new library the Gladys Taylor Library in recognition of all the efforts she put forth for the town. In later years Gladys was able to spend many Canadian winters in her adopted Australia. Gladys lived a full life and in the end her bucket list was completed.
At Mom’s request there will be no Funeral Service but a family service will be held in the summer in Swan River, Manitoba.
Messages:
I think, my most unforgetable character.She was one in a million and I so enjoyed chatting and often arguing with her. My condolences but I do hope the family takes some solace from the fact that there are literally thousands that believe that we were blessed by having her spend so many years with us. May God Bless
Our thoughts and prayers are with you on the loss of Gladys, who was a good friend to Alice and me. We always enjoyed her company and visits. She will be missed by many friends. Stan Sims & family
Dennis & Jackie,Susan & Fred,Lorne & Cathy and families.... We send our sincere condolences on the loss of dear Gladys.I met Gladys when living in Beiseker years back but have grown very close to her the past three years at the Bethany.My mom and I would always visit with her and after losing my dear mother time with Gladys helped fill those empty places in my life as I would visit her once or twice a week.I enjoyed sitting in the sun with her and chatting or taking her for strolls in the building.It always made me smile when I would walk in and even if it looked like she was sleeping as soon as she heard my voice she would look up and put her arm up in the air to call me over!Our conversations were limited and usually I got a reply of "I'm not sure" but it didn't matter,we still talked.What an amazing woman who lived a full and exciting life!I will not forget you my special friend and will sure miss our visits!Your next book "The Final Chapter" should be a good one!Keeping you all close in thoughts.
We appreciated Mrs. Taylor's independent ability and her intelligent mind. Sincere condolences, Verna and Lorne Kirkwold
Thinking of you all on your mom's passing, She led a full life, so not sad but thinking of you all. We will tell mom when we visit in summer.
I am very sorry to hear of Aunt Gladys passing. My condolences to Dennis, Lorne, Susan and families. Rest in Peace Gladys
This is very belated of course, I only just learned of Gladys`passing. I only knew her for a short time more than 40 years ago as the mother of my then-girlfriend but I still remember her fondly for her dynamism and wit - a really great lady.