Obituary

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Valerie ‘Lynne’ Taylor. Age 82, she was born June 10, 1941 and passed June 4, 2024. She grew up in Santa Barbara California with her parents Lewis and Blanche Middleton, along with sisters Dawn, Christy, and Melanie. She attended Dolores Catholic Elementary, Marymount, graduated from Santa Barbara Catholic High School, and attended College of Notre Dame. She returned to school later in life earning a BA degree from California State University Fullerton, and MA degree from Azusa Pacific University. She married David Taylor (deceased), from Santa Barbara in 1960 and eventually settled in Laguna Niguel where they raised their family. After her boys finished school, Lynne completed her education and worked several years as a family counselor, then as a special needs instructor for the local school district until her retirement. This was near and dear to her heart, as Lynne loved children.

A devout Catholic, Lynne cherished her faith. She participated in an intercessory prayer group for 40 years. As a member of St. Edward’s Parish in Dana Point, she volunteered for parish events, provided support for Healing Masses at Mission Hospital, served as a Eucharistic Minister at Beverly Manor, dispersed food at San Felipe Church Food Bank, and drove the school bus for former St. Catherine of Siena Parish School in Laguna Beach where her sons attended in the 1970s.

Lynne played the piano and sang hymns as a child which greatly suited her as an adult. She also spent many hours completing crossword puzzles and reading all genres: Spiritual, Medical, Biographical and Current Events.

Inspired by her Basque Pyrenees heritage, Lynne enjoyed traveling to the region with her family and made several pilgrimages with her prayer community to Medjugorje, the Holy Land and Rome, as well as Poland with her mother.

She leaves behind sons Eric, Miles, Wade and Sterling, and grandchildren Tiffany, Sterling II, Ryan, and Lauren, along with countless friends and extended family who felt her warmth and generosity. We will all miss her very much. “She has finished the race and kept the Faith.”