July 3, 19944 - October 16, 2010
We are sad to share the news of the passing of Sheila Taylor, beloved mother, grandmother, wife and sister. Sheila passed away peacefully at Menno Home on Oct. 16, 2010, after bravely battling brain cancer and diabetes for over 10 years. She has gone much too soon, she was but age 66. We are grateful that she is at peace now and surely with God. The family thanks Menno Home for their excellent care and friendship during Sheila’s last year.
Sheila Taylor, was born Sheila Thompson, on July 3, 1944, in Bournemouth, England to parents, Winifred May Thompson and Thomas Alfred Thompson. Her younger sister Gillian Lorna was born in 1951. In August of 1957 the family immigrated to British Columbia, Canada.
During her life Sheila lived in Bournemouth, England; and in the British Columbia towns of Vancouver, Richmond, Abbotsford, Aldergrove, 59 Mile House, Clinton, Barriere, and Kelowna.
Sheila became a woman of many trades, all of which she excelled in. A few of these include: dispatcher for the Langley RCMP Detachment; Arabian horse breeder, trainer, and showman; owner/operator of Sheila’s Floral Studios; saleswoman for Sound of Music, Abbotsford, B.C.; owner/operator of Shandwell Holdings Ltd. Landscaping; and owner/realtor of Results Realty in Barriere, B.C.
She was a talented and accomplished musician in piano, organ, and keyboard; a music instructor, participated in a small band, and played organ for the church.
Sheila was an accomplished writer, newspaper columnist, and author.
She served as the president of the Barriere and District Chamber of Commerce, was a convenor for the North Thompson Fall Fair, and the president of the BC Arabian Horse Association.?
Always an unbelievably hard worker, Sheila was also quite the handy-woman. She was an impressive builder, using carpentry skills she learned from her Dad. She could build you a sturdy shed, a stunning garden box, or an efficient barn. She was an excellent seamstress; making amazing creations with skills learned from her Mother, and of course she was a wonderful cook.
Her love of horses spanned a lifetime, from riding a pony as a youngster, to owning and competing on an International jumper who took her over fences that were over five feet and into the winners circle. In the 60’s she bred and raised many Regional and National winning Arabian horses under the name of Khasik Arabian Ranch.
She also bred, raised, and showed toy and miniature poodles, and Maltese dogs. Sheila was always willing to rehabilitate an injured bird, or care for a companion animal that needed help.
Sheila went back to school at age 50, and attended UBC to obtain her Real Estate Agents License, which she did with flying colors in 1994. She soon owned her own real estate business, Results Realty in Barriere, B.C.
Sheila always had a caring heart, and a passion for people. Fittingly she returned to school again in 1999 and obtained her Addictions Counseling Certificate in Kelowna, B.C., and as a result began working as coordinator for the Pep Talk Peer Support Services, an outreach program in Kelowna.
Sheila was well traveled, and had been across much of the world in her lifetime, including; the United Kingdom, Ireland, Holland, Rome, the United States, Hawaii, Paris, and Mexico.
She was married in 1962 at the age of 18 to her first husband Robert Wright. Together they adopted their son Paul Wright, born September 20, 1973. Sheila’s second marriage took place on November 17, 1979, to Wendell Edward Taylor. Her son Maxwell Sheldon Taylor was born August 6, 1980, and her daughter Shandelle Caress Bruns (Taylor) soon followed on February 22, 1982.
Sheila loved her children more than anything else in the world. And though she divorced again, managed to raised her three children as a single mother with care, nurturing, and an abundance of love.
In 1988 she met the love of her life, Philip Meehan, and celebrated 22 years together in 2009.
Forced to retire after the devastating and ultimately life changing diagnoses of a brain tumor at age 56, Sheila moved back to Abbotsford, and spent the last ten years bravely dealing with the after effects of the cancer, and enjoying life as best she could.
We are blessed that she was able to meet and enjoy all four of her grandchildren. She was the best Nana; always giving treats to her grand kids, candy, toys or even pine cones she’d collect for them to make Christmas crafts with. She’d decorate Easter eggs with the kids, bake and decorate cookies, or make silly crafts with them. They made many happy memories together during the last year that we will treasure always.
She was able to continue her love of gardening, which brought her so much joy. She also wrote a weekly newspaper column on gardening for the North Thompson Star/Journal in Barriere, and was always willing to help people find their “green thumb”.
She loved crafting and creating, giving, teaching, enjoying nature and the outdoors.
Sheila was always an avid camper and fisherwoman and will forever be remembered to loved ones, as “The Coho Queen”. She always loved to be up at the lake. Sitting in the canoe fishing was her most favourite place in the world. It was as appealing to her as playing around in her garden. Fishing was such a passion for her, whether ice fishing, deep sea fishing, fishing for Coho at the river, or trolling on the lake; Sheila would sit for hours whether they were biting or not and she’d love every minute of it.
Sheila, with the help of her sister Gillian (Jill), was able to write and publish a book of knowledge regarding gardening, crafts, yard and home ideas. Titled “Good Gardening”, it brought Sheila a great amount of joy and satisfaction when it was published in February of 2010 and proved to be a popular reader’s choice.
She was also happy to be published in “The Departing Day”; an anthology of Canadian Verse, in 2006, after having her poem “Caribou Farewell” selected out of thousands of Canadian writers. Sheila wrote this poem as she faced moving away from her home in Clinton, B.C., in 1988.
Sheila was her beautiful self. All her family and friends are so grateful to have had her in their lives. She was such a warm soul, generous and selfless. She touched so many lives during her lifetime with her gentle giving spirit and amazing courage and bravery in the face of adversity. She was an inspiration to many and loved by us so much.
Sheila gave us a love of gardening and a never ending knowledge of it. She gave us beautiful flowers, beautiful music and a beautiful friend.
Sheila is survived by her husband Philip Meehan, sister Gillian (Jill) Hayward (Bob), daughter Shandelle Caress Bruns, (Gregory Bruns) and grandchildren, Anastasia Eve, Angelise Eden and Mason Dexter Bruns; sons Maxwell Sheldon Taylor, and Paul Wright, (Kim Bork) and grandson Morgan Robert Wright. And her beloved little dog Moxie.
There will be a celebration of her life on Nov. 6, 2010, in Abbotsford, B.C.?