Patricia Taylor

kelly Alford Christmas

Megan Sellers Gloria and Greg Stuart for sharing this with me! The good old days :)

Megan Sellers Thank You Gloria and Greg Stuart for saving treasuring memories!

kelly Alford Family reunion

kelly Alford

kelly Alford Christmas at the Alford’s

kelly Alford Memorial Day 1987

kelly Alford Taking care of Casey

Megan Sellers Professional picture of Pat Taylor at Mid Michigan Community College.

Megan Sellers Enjoying Mackinaw Island

kelly Alford Christmas 1992 Uncle Red and Pat in one of their epic battles!

Laura Alford I vividly remember when Casey and I first told Pat that we were going to have our first child. We were standing in her kitchen and she let out a giant whoop, waved her hands in the air, and did a little stomp-dance in a circle. I'd say she was pretty excited. :)

Laura Alford I have no idea what restaurant this is, but I'm guessing we met Pat for dinner after work because she's all professional-looking while Ben's just got this random t-shirt on. :)

Laura Alford This is Pat and me at the LPGA 2017 Volvik Championship. It was a beautiful day, and we had such a great time!

Casey Alford

Laura Alford Pat passed on her love of gardening and plants to her grandson, Nate. Somehow I don't have a picture of them gardening, so here they are in the snow instead lol. Nate loved growing tomatoes with Nana Pat!

Megan Sellers Listening to the birds at Glacier Hills

Megan Sellers She enjoyed the garden area at Glacier Hills..

Megan Sellers Great Memories!

kelly Alford Pat became my friend the minute I met her! I was maybe 3, and I remember her playing with me and making me feel important! Pat was not only a sister, but a friend! I loved how she treated mom and dad like they were her own parents. Pat’s smile would light up any room! She could be fierce and her epic debates with Uncle Red remain some of my favorite memories of her! Her ability to cultivate beautiful gardens was a gift! I think of her every time I see a beautiful flower! The most important thing about Pat was that she gave us Casey and Megan, what an amazing legacy to leave! She will live on in the amazing children she gave us! It was a blessing to know you! Rest In Peace, Pat! I am sure you are tending the gardens in heaven!

Casey Alford

Karen Daniel My life has been blessed with a strong core of women friends who cannot be shaken, who have grown older with me “no matter what” and who have brought immense joy and strength to my foundation as a woman. Pat has been such a friend. We met in our early 30s as neighbors. How can one write about a 40 year friendship? It feels impossible. Memories have been playing in my head like a movie reel from our lives as young mothers on MacKenzie Lane to becoming grandmothers. We raised our children together, applauded each others accomplishments, supported each other in difficult and disappointing times and celebrated as we and our families reached life milestones. I think it was those dang, endless walks she insisted on years ago that cemented our friendship. We would walk around the neighborhood circle over and over and at times in windy cold weather, would even walk backwards! By the way, neither sleet, wind, rain or snow would mess up our constant talking! After moving away from each other several years ago, we spent hours on the telephone discussing life; laughing and crying. We also took several trips together, taking the train to Chicago and Toronto and flying to Florida a few times. She enjoyed traveling and experiencing new things; like the time we sailed out from Key West. She was intent on talking with the young student staff all about what they were learning when we encountered a storm forcing us down into the sailboat with others, hoping to get to land. It was scary to say the least. One time we changed planes in NYC and laughed about “having breakfast in NY”. Pat has always been a vibrant, bright, humorous and grateful woman of strength. Her belief in my potential and her encouragement to go back to school when I was in my 30s, could not be stopped. There was a time I thought I should quit, after all who would hire a near 40 year old in a new profession; but frankly, Pat wouldn't let me. Her persistence was damn right annoying but inevitably a blessing. She was a force to be reckoned with, to say the least. I think it was the educator in her; her love of seeing someone grow, her genuine interest in each individual no matter where they came from or what their background happened to be. I remember long conversations where she excitedly told me about a student she was helping and who brought her joy and pride. She loved learning about various cultures, always with an open mind and loving acceptance that can be a lesson to us all. She loved to laugh, she loved to dance, she loved people. She was a genuine extrovert, her energy fueled by others. Personally, no words can fully describe what her friendship and faithful constancy has meant to me. I can without doubt say that I would not be the woman I am today without her presence in my life all these years. Pat used to say “we need to enjoy life because in this universe we are really only alive for about two minutes”. Over the past year when I visited I could see an awful disease take away her ability to communicate. I could see her struggle. I suppose one could say her death is a blessing since she has suffered and struggled enough and they would be right in a logical way. I know that deep inside of me. But since that dreaded phone call, I feel like I can't breathe. I feel like life is not fair, that this should not have happened this way, that we should have had more time. I suppose “this is where faith comes in”. So, I will lean on that faith and believe that hope does not disappoint and trust in the promise of eternal life. Goodbye my dear friend. I love you. I am grateful for you. I will hold you in my heart, until we meet again. Karen

Debbie Slavicek Pat and I had so much fun watching Ben while Casey and Laura were making the move to Ann Arbor. Pat said "how many Nanas does it take to take care of one grandson?!" She was a wonderful, sweet, caring person. A lady I am blessed to have known and loved. Thank you, Pat, for giving me a great son in law!! You are missed. Enjoy dancing with the angels!

kathy stadtfeld Pat was part of our "girl group." We would go to the gym together on our lunch hours, attend Mardi Gras at the college, go to museums, visit Cathy in Douglas, go to movies and lunches. She would make us lovely lunches at her house and was always concerned that we had everything we needed -- she was always popping up to get us more of... whatever. She was a total professional at work and helped countless numbers of students. But she was still a total hippie with her friends. She was fair and honest and was not very forgiving of those who weren't. Her smile was lovely and constant. She was proud of her children and loved her grandsons. When I visited her at Glacier Hills she was always glad to see me. We would visit the birds and take walks through the buildings and around the grounds. She loved music and dancing and we would sing to the oldies that were playing in the activity room. We walked to a church service in another part of the building singing "Going to the Chapel." She would smile at staff and residents and tell me what beautiful people they were and how she loved them. I miss her. Love to her family.

Suzanne R Jones “I love my friends neither with my heart nor with my mind. Just in case... Heart might stop. Mind can forget. I love them with my Soul. Soul never stops or forgets.” ~Rumi In honor of Pat, our beautiful soul now singing oh so lovely songs as an angel in heaven. However, she did love to dance...so surely she is dancing joyfully in the starry realms. And, not just in honor of Pat...but it was an absolute honor to be counted as her friend (our dear, dear friend). How lucky, how blessed are we? And, to have the privilege to know some of her beautiful family is also a wonderful blessing. Most important to our dear Pat was her family and faith. She was so deeply proud of her children and grandchildren and all of her family. Her children, Casey and Megan, are kind and remarkable in so many ways-each gifted, talented and smart, but the way that they cared for and loved their mom was so very touching and demonstrated a love and respect of great depth for their mother. They should find comfort knowing that their mom told many proud stories about each of them. They were her heart. She loved them so very deeply. Whenever we visited-always, always-we talked of family. Pat...the Pied Piper of students (and many others) in need of counsel and help. It seemed that one could literally watch a virtual army of students trailing after her down college halls...or lined up outside of her office door patiently waiting for her to share her gifts of healing, listening and mentoring. She truly was gifted, and helped and counseled so many out of the deep generosity of her soul. Her love of education, and desire to lift others up and allow and encourage them to shine was paramount to Pat’s work on earth. Oh yes...and, surely, we can't forget her grand sense of humor. We laughed and played and enjoyed our time together (although too short) immensely. Even during a treasured last visit at Glacier Hills for her birthday, at the end of February, we somehow found a couple of moments of new ways to laugh together, and connect in an emotional space. To hear the beautiful sound of her laughter again...well, that would be sheer heaven. So, we will have to leave it to the stars and angels and dancers of light to bring memories and sounds yet to life in the most blessed and unique manner for those of us still here on Earth. It will happen I know. Pat, we so love you. Dance on, enjoy the stars, and please drop by from time to time if you will. We’ll recognize your laugh. “Death has nothing to do with going away. The sun sets. The moon sets. But they are not gone." ~Rumi With love...Suzanne, and with Gwladys and Beth (photo).