Michelle Renee Taylor

On November 19, 2016, we lost a daughter, mother and friend, but gained an angel.  Michelle Taylor, age 54, went to be with her beloved Lord and Savior.  Michelle was a lifelong Sunnyside resident and grew up with most wonderful parents a girl could have.  She graduated from Sunnyside High School with the class of 1980.  Michelle married her high school sweetheart, Russ Taylor, right after high school, and they were married for 32 year before they divorced.  

Following in her mother’s footsteps, Michelle became a teacher.  She took a full course load through Central Washington University and Washington State University, completing her teaching degree in only 2 years.  Michelle touched countless lives in Sunnyside during her time as a 6th grade teacher at Chief Kamiakin Elementary School and as a teacher at Calvary Lutheran Preschool.  Eventually, Michelle put teaching on hold to spend more time with the two things she wanted most in this world, her two children, Samantha and Timothy.  She became a work-from-home bookkeeper, learning the trade from her father.  Michelle was the bookkeeper at Davis Pumps for 30 years.  In 1992, after becoming frustrated with having to drive to Seattle or Spokane to buy her favorite shoes, she decided she would open her own shoe store, Taylor’d Footwear.  She was the only employee for many years, spending her days doing bookkeeping in-between sales, with Samantha and Timothy next to her in their “playroom”.  After a few years fate brought her Sonya Anderson as an employee, but what Sonya became was much more.  She was Michelle’s best friend and part of the family.  You wouldn’t leave Taylor’d Footwear without a smile, a laugh and lengthy conversation when Michelle was working.  Taylor’d Footwear will celebrate its 25 year anniversary next year, a testament to an outstanding businesswoman who beat the odds of operating a small business in a small town.  During the last 4 years, her greatest joy has been her grandson, Dante Taylor.  She was the most wonderful “Grandma Michelle” a little boy could ask for.  They had a special bond and Michelle cherished the opportunities that she got to spend time with him, always making it an adventure.  As impossible as it is to express what an outstanding mother and grandmother she was, it is just as impossible to express the hole that is left without her. 

Michelle struggled for over 25 years with Lupus, a disease that left her in constant pain, but you would never know by her attitude. She was the happiest, most upbeat person you could ever meet. Her smile could truly light up a room.  Her family takes comfort in the fact that even though she left them too soon, she is now a perfect, pain free body in Heaven.   

She is survived by her most loved daughter, Samantha Taylor; most loved son, Timothy Taylor; and joy of her life, grandson, Dante Taylor; her beloved parents, William and Roberta Zieske; brother, Mark Zieske and sister in-law Mara Zieske;  nephew, Hunter Zieske and niece Alex Zieske; former husband Russ Taylor and brother in-law Robert Taylor.

There will be a celebration of life service at the Sunnyside Eagles on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 from 4:00 PM -7:00  PM. Please come and share your wonderful memories with family and friends. Those wishing to sign Michelle’s online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com Smith Funeral Homes in care of arrangements.

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