Allyen Taylor

Our beloved Allyen left us on June 6, 2016, to joyfully rejoin her husband and soulmate, Harlan John Taylor. Allyen was born October 24, 1916 to Leonard Drake and Maud (Corwin) Drake. She embraced life and enjoyed her journey here on earth to the fullest. A sunny personality, a friend to all; she will be sorely missed. Allyen and Harlan married in 1937. Surviving are their children; Gordon Reed Taylor, Harlan Allen (Christine) Taylor, and Marsha (Toby) Sparks. They had 11 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren.

Allyen and Harlan decided early in their marriage to go into retail business for themselves as owners of a Ben Franklin franchise store, and were successful in several locations in the Toledo and Northwest Ohio region. The final store was in Gibsonburg, where they stayed in business for fifty years. Harlan retired at age 85, and Allyen at age 72. After her husband’s death in 2003 at age 98, Allyen moved to Liberty Center to live in ‘a box in her son Harlan (Bud’s) back yard’ where she stayed until her health declined in 2015. During her years in Liberty Center she stayed active with Bud and his wife, riding on a Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide as a passenger to biker events in Sturgis, SD. She loved going on poker runs on the motorcycle, and was always up for a ride. She was a member of the N.W.O.H.O.G. Chapter, and rode with her new friends to many events. Winters were spent with her daughter Marsha’s family in Sun City, AZ, where she enjoyed going out to eat, finding garage sales, and socializing with her Phoenix friends.

She also loved sailing on cruise ships. The destination didn’t matter as much as the opportunity to be on the ship and enjoy the activities and watching the dancers at the various lounges on board. Mom gathered quite a collection of refrigerator magnets over the years, mainly from Caribbean ports of call.

Allyen was a member of Eastern Star for many years, and played the piano and organ for that group. She and her husband volunteered their time at the Windsor Lane Care Center in Gibsonburg, OH. After Harlan Sr. began living at the care center, Allyen was tireless in her devotion to his care and continued doing her volunteer work as well.

In 2015, after deteriorating health caused her to move into The Orchards at Northcrest in Napoleon, she quickly became a favorite with the staff and residents. She would wheel herself in a wheelchair to the dining room, where she would frequently play the piano for the other residents at the care center. Above all, Mom lived her life in service to others, and always put other people first in her consideration.

Visitation will be held Friday, June 10, 2016 at the Herman-Veh Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Gibsonburg, OH from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be at the funeral home on Saturday, June 11 beginning at 11:00 a.m., with an additional hour of visitation prior to the funeral service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National Audubon Society.