TAYLOR, Patricia Ann (Pat)

Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, Arizona, Sunday, August 18, 2013 Patricia Ann Taylor, 70, of Tonto Basin passed away July 29. She died in Flagstaff, one of the Arizona towns she had called home, of Glioblastoma Multiforme, a form of brain cancer. Pat is survived by her husband of 53 years David Taylor; children Dawn (Rob) Begley, Krinda (Todd) Power, James (Ronda) Taylor, and Mike (Laura) Taylor; grandchildren Raquel,Taylor, Jacob, Tara, Catherine, Chelsea, Christi, Desiree, Josh, Kendra and Mike; and 8 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers Bill (Elsa) Lister and Tom (Debbie) Lister; she was preceded in death by her sister Kathy (Steve) Collins. Pat was born in Spartanburg, S.C., on August 17, 1942, and moved to Arizona at a young age. She and David married soon after she graduated from Mesa High. They lived in Tempe, Gilbert and Flagstaff, where Pat volunteered with the Assistance League, before retiring to Tonto Basin. Pat loved the community in Tonto, where they enjoyed boating on Roosevelt Lake, hosting neighbors, family and friends for gatherings, following the Diamondbacks, exploring back roads and spending time with their dogs Peaches and Iko. Children delighted Pat at every age and stage of her life. Over the years she took in many children as a babysitter, and throughout her life children found in her a friend, advocate and mentor. When the Superstition Freeway was under construction in Tempe in the 1970s, Pat and other parents successfully lobbied for a pedestrian bridge near Mill Avenue so children could walk to school safely. In recent years she served as a cross-country coach at the Tonto Basin School and on the School Board for the Tonto Basin School District. Pat was no typical grandma. She completed the Imogene Pass Run in Colorado six times, hiked the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim twice, finished the three-day, 60-mile Komen Walk for the Cure in Phoenix, and did the Climb to Conquer Cancer up Snowbowl Road numerous times. She never passed up an opportunity to dance, from the rodeo dances of her youth to a recent performance of Mike’s band at the Green Room in Flagstaff. She loved having a full house for Thanksgiving and always made enough pies (regular and gluten-free) to guarantee leftovers. She was blessed to have many close friends with whom she liked to hike, share a glass a wine or just “visit.” Two gatherings will celebrate Pat’s life and legacy. The first will be Thursday, August 22, at 4 p.m. at the Elks Lodge in Flagstaff. The second will be Saturday, September 28, at 3 p.m. at Tonto Basin School. All are invited. Pat’s wish was that we come together for a festive party and share some good stories. Dress casually and bring any fun stories you may want to share, a song or an instrument, or just a smile. In lieu of flowers, Pat requested that any donations be made to Tonto Basin School, P.O. Box 337, Tonto Basin, AZ 85553. This obituary was prepared by the Advertising Department (928) 556-2279.