Gloria Maxine Taylor

Gloria Maxine (Larr) Taylor, 85, of Beaver Creek Township, MI passed away peacefully with her loving husband Howard at her side on Saturday morning, June 14, 2025. 

She was proceeded in death by her parents Dale Larr and Maxine (Flory) Larr, Two brothers Dale Larr and Jack Larr both of Manton, MI and a son Mark McDaniel. She is survived by her husband of almost 40 years Howard, a sister Ruth Briggs of Traverse City, two daughters Jill McDaniel-Fradenberg of Hillman, MI and Heidi Zuckschwerdt of Jacksonville, FL, a step-daughter Alicia Taylor of Edgerton, WI, a step-son Timothy Taylor of Manton, MI and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Gloria’s life will be scheduled later this summer.

Gloria was an accomplished artist and a lover of music. Her career was that of an executive secretary for the Michigan Education Association serving in the Cadillac office and the Houghton Lake office. She was a strong advocate of education and spent many hours assisting her husband in the production of theatrical presentations at Grayling High School. In 1993 she was presented an award for “Outstanding Contribution to the Education of Students by a Citizen” by the Crawford AuSable School District Board of Education.

Gloria was an accomplished chalk artist and spent many years doing chalk art presentations to church groups throughout Michigan. Many of her chalk drawings are still in existence and soon will be placed on display in the Stittsville Church located at Wellington Farm Park.

Gloria was a lover of music and when they were married Howard was the leader of the Original AuSable River Dixieland Band. She supported the group serving as their music librarian and traveled with them on tours about the mid-west and on three concert tours of the Caribbean Islands. Later she sang second soprano with the Michelson Singers, a ten-voice vocal ensemble which sang throughout the mid-west, did a concert tour of Virginia and North Carolina, a concert tour of Vermont and New Hampshire and an Advent concert tour of Germany, Belgum and Austria where they sang at Saltzburg Cathedral, Melk Abby, the Van Trapp home and then the concert hall of the Vienna City Building where they received a standing ovation.

Gloria loved being involved in the events and activities of Wellington Farm Park and could frequently be seen working in her basket shop making baskets and talking to people about the Great Depression. Before her abilities were cut short by the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease, she touched the hearts of many people and will be fondly remembered and missed.

It was Gloria’s wish that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Ward C. Taylor Memorial Fund of the Northeast Michigan Community Foundation which is the endowment fund supporting Wellington Farm Park, Inc.

Arrangements entrusted to Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home.