Jan. 28, 1922 – May 17, 2012
Margaret Jane (Woodward) Taylor passed away gracefully at 90 in her family home originally built by her maternal grandparents in the town she loved. Margaret, “Woody” to her old friends and classmates, was from an early Orange County pioneer family (McKenney) and lived in Laguna for most of her life.
Margaret was the second daughter of Robert Dee and Grace Estelle (McKenney) Woodward. Dee was a firemen and mechanic for the city of Laguna Beach. Margaret loved to tell tales of learning to drive a ‘city’ vehicle as pre teen. She attended Laguna Beach schools, as did her her children, two grandchildren and a great grandson. And, although a barely 5’ tall, she surfed a long board with the guys and enjoyed all the good life that Laguna had to offer.
The artist colony was a great fit for Margaret, who worked for Brayton Laguna Pottery and had quite a collection of early pieces. She loved to draw and paint in watercolors.
Margaret married Lawrence W (Larry) Taylor in 1941 and worked beside him in many business ventures in Laguna Beach where they stayed to raise their family. The family spent many years exploring the parks and byways of California as Larry loved to camp; Margaret, not so much. The kids knew when preparations had begun as Margaret would paint her nails bright red. It covered the camping grit you just couldn’t quite get off in a pail she would explain. She did love the outdoors, especially her most loved Laguna coves, where she went weekly with a high school girl friend way in to her 80s.
The couple were married 50 years before Larry’s death in 1991. Busy all her life, a friend suggested that Taylor take her lifetime passion for sewing and start an online business making aloha shirts. She enjoyed her online friendships and created shirts for people all over the world including her sons, grandsons and great-grandsons.
Taylor is survived by her son Jeff Taylor of Camino, Calif.; daughter Susan (John) Santangelo of Kailua Kona, Hawaii; son Kent (Shelley) Taylor of Mapleton, Utah; son Lynn Taylor of Laguna Beach; six grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
