Ruth Taylor

Ruth Jean Taylor, age 78 of Fort Collins, Colorado, died peacefully and surrounded by her family on March 29th at her daughter's home in Lakewood, Colorado after falling ill in January. Cremation has been completed and several Circles of Remembrance will be held at her son's home in Fort Collins throughout April. Ruth Jean Mandel was born January 14, 1932 in Hackensack, New Jersey to Herman and Winifred Mandel. She and her family lived in Lynhurst and Saddlebrook, New Jersey. She married Donald Taylor on September 5, 1954 in Fairlawn, NJ, and they lived in Massachusetts, Virginia, Colorado Springs, Ridgewood, New Jersey and Lakewood, Colorado before moving to Fort Collins in 1996. Ruth graduated with an Associates degree in Communication in 1978 and worked as an office manager and accountant for her husband's business for over 10 years. After Don had a stroke and was paralyzed in 1995, Ruth cared for him until his death in 2000. For the last 2 years of her life she took on the care of her son, Donald, who has ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). She enjoyed crafts, sewing and music. In her younger years, she helped out with the Cub Scouts, Campfire Girls and Girl Scouts. Ruth was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Oriental Ladies. Most recently, she was a volunteer for the Disabled Resource Services, and a founder and active member of the Fort Collins Red Hat Society. Ruth is survived by her three children, Kate Taylor of Fort Collins, Don Taylor of Memphis, Tennessee (currently living in Fort Collins) and Bonnie Hennessy of Lakewood; her brother, Bob Mandel of Pennsylvania; six grandchildren; and two great-grandsons. Donations can be made in her memory to the ALS Foundation in Denver.