Gwendolyn Denise Taylor, 64, of Lebanon, Oregon passed away Tuesday, August 1, at her sister Ruby Setzer’s home in Lacomb. She was born in Sweet Home to Wilburn ”Boots” and Melvina (Coran) Taylor. She was the seventh born of nine children.

Gwen was raised in Sweet Home. She lived in Lincoln City from 1972 to 1973 before moving back to Sweet Home. In 1978, she moved to Lacomb and lived there until her death.

She worked various jobs, including bartender at Foster Water Hole for seven years, National Frozen Foods in Albany for five years, and as a belt worker and technician.

She graduated from Sweet Home High School in 1971. Her one desire in life was to become a nurse. She did her pre-nursing studies at Chemeketa Community College from 1983 to 1984. She realized her dream and graduated from Linn Benton Community College with an Associates of Science Degree in Nursing in 1988. As an RN, she worked at Stayton Hospital in labor and delivery, newborn nursery, med surge, emergency, trauma, and ICU. She also taught birthing classes. She worked at Lebanon Community Hospital, Cascade Nursing Home, Mennonite Village, and Fort Lewis Washington Veterans Hospital.

Gwen enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, scrapbooking, reading, and crocheting. She loved spending time with family and grandkids. One of the highlights of her life was a cruise with her sisters to the Caribbean in 2007.

She is survived by her son, Anthony “Tony” Taylor and his wife, Lindsay Taylor, of Sweet Home; daughter Sherinda DePas and her husband, Ricardo DePas, of Lacomb; sisters Ruby Setzer of Lacomb, Wynette Parsons of Keizer, Carolyn Henderson of Keizer, Linda Taylor-Parks of Portland, Teresa Stocker of Sweet Home, and Yvonne Coleman of Aumsville; brother Joe Taylor of Sweet Home; grandsons Austin Taylor of Sweet Home and Tristin, Jonathan, and Gabriel DePas of Lebanon; and many nieces and nephews.

Gwen was preceded in death by her parents, Wilburn Boots Taylor in 1989 and Melvina Taylor in 1996, and brother, Wilburn Taylor, Jr., “Buster” in 2004.

A viewing will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 10, at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel.

Funeral service will be at 1:00 p.m., Friday, August 11, at Sweet Home Funeral Chapel. Final burial will take place at Gilliland Cemetery.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements.