Mary Lynn Taylor

Mary Lynn Taylor, age 86, of Miles City passed away on Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Sheridan, Wyoming.

Mary Lynn was born to Hugo Edward Zuelke and Mary Bohling Zuelke on March 9, 1938, in Miles City, Montana the youngest in a family of five. She attended Miles City Elementary Schools where she met her future husband, Vern Taylor, in the 5th grade at Lincoln School.  During her high school years, she was active in Rainbow for Girls going through all the chairs and serving as Worthy Advisor in 1956, Ushers Club, and CCHS Band.  After graduation in 1956, she went to work at Midland Coal & Lumber Company as a secretary.  On June 26, 1957, she married Vern Taylor and they moved to Bozeman where he was a sophomore in college.  She worked first in the Extension Livestock & Range Office and then as secretary at the History, Government & Philosophy Department for four years.  She was very proud of her PHT degree (Putting Hubby Through) which she received in 1960.  When she was 12, she started clerking at the Eastern Montana Fair and continued to do so during fair time.  At 19 she took over as office manager and in 1985 she became the Fair Manager for 15 years before retiring in 2000 completing 50 years at the fairgrounds.  She received the Fair Manager of the Year award in 1993 from Rocky Mountain Assn. of Fairs, served on the Board, and was named President of Rocky Mountain Assn. of Fairs in 1993-94, and received the American Heritage Award in 1998 also.  Other places she worked over the years were Montana Dakota Utilities, Soil Conservation Service, and Howe Appraisals.  She was a 20-year member and past president of United Transportation Union through her father a Milwaukee Railroad conductor, a member of the First Presbyterian Church where she served as an elder, and deacon and was active in PW for many years.  In 1974, she started the Fireflies 4-H Club and was a leader for 10 years, was a Future Homemakers of America chapter parent for six years, and received an Honorary Future Farmer degree from the CCHS FFA.

Mary Lynn loved riding horses and doing ranch work, camping with family or friends, traveling, sewing, crocheting, knitting, playing bridge, and most especially enjoying her family.  She tried to make as many sporting events and other activities her grandchildren were involved in through the years and especially loved all basketball games.

During the last couple of years, Mary Lynn’s health began to decline, which took some of her independence away.  Eventually, she moved to Sheridan, Wyoming to live at Cascades of Sugarland Assisted Living and to be near her daughters, and their families.  Many wonderful memories were made with mom/grandmother/GiGi during the recent holidays, her 86^th birthday and Easter while living in Sheridan for a few short months.

She was preceded in death by her husband Vern Taylor, parents Hugo and Mary Zuelke, sister Ellen Roberts (Dwight), and brothers Earl, Al (Tillie) and Ray (Grace)

Mary Lynn is survived by her daughters Laurie Graves (Will) and Becky Bard (Gene), son Craig Taylor (Sherry), grandchildren: Taylor Graves (Andrea), Caty Clabaugh (Lamont), Brody Bard, Bailey Bard (and fiancé Sean Munger), McKenzie Gaskill (Garrett), Amber Taylor, four great-granddaughters and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to specially thank Jane Shores for the special care and assistance she provided for Mary Lynn over the last several years. Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2024, from 3:00-6:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Miles City.  Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 10, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Miles City.  Interment will follow in the Custer County Cemetery.  Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting:  www.stevensonandsons.com. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Frist Presbyterian Church, 1401 Main Street, Miles City, MT 59301 for their fund to fix the marquis or to the Range Riders Museum, 435 L P Anderson Rd., Miles City, MT 59301.