Patricia A. Taylor

Patricia Ann Taylor, our loving Mother, Grandmother and Sister passed away peacefully at her home on July 8, 2023, at the age of 82. Her family was with her at the time of her passing and during her lengthy illness.

Patricia (Pat, Patty, Patsy) was born to Frank and Rose Aguiar on October 5, 1940. The eldest of six children, she grew up on a dairy farm and was a country girl at heart.  She attended Paradise School, Modesto High School and studied at San Francisco State. Upon her return to Modesto, she began her career in business accounting.

She married the love of her life, Don C. Taylor, in 1962 and, later they moved to Merced to start their own business, United Floor Covering. For over thirty years Pat and Don worked side by side building a successful business in the community, raising their children, and enjoying life to the fullest. Married over 45 years, they were inseparable in work and in their travels, going on trips with family and golfing trips with friends. In 1997 Pat was the Women’s Division Captain at Merced Golf and Country Club.

Don’s passing in 2007 left Pat lonely with an emptiness in her heart. She found fulfillment in her children, grandchildren, her siblings and families, her group of lady friends and her strong Catholic faith. She had an active life with her children Don and Danielle and Mike, her son-in-law, and the grandchildren. They were a very close and tight loving family and enjoyed doing so much together. The grandchildren who called her “Peppers” were her world and they adored Peppers. They kept her young, busy, laughing and dancing. She loved family trips to the coast, Disneyland, and Hawaii. Family gatherings for holidays, birthdays or just because made her happy. She made holidays special for everyone, always making her specialty dishes for the family; macaroni salad, coconut cream and pecan pies. She was an excellent cook and baker.

Pat had an outgoing personality and was very sociable. In high school she was the school mascot, “Priscilla Panther” and was crowned Football Queen. She was a great conversationalist and found talking to others easy. She was an avid reader enjoying browsing the latest books at Barnes & Noble. She enjoyed good food and a good cup of fresh coffee. She had exquisite taste in decorating and in fashion. She loved watching the Golden Girls, her favorite program.

Family, friends, her Catholic faith, and her Portuguese heritage were important to Pat. A strong-willed independent woman, Pat had an enormous generous and kind heart as big as the world. She loved unconditionally from the very depth of her soul, and she cared deeply about the well-being of the entire family. She was the Matriarch of the family. She was our Queen.

Throughout her health challenges Pat continued to be brave, strong, courageous and above all a realist. She was unfaltering in her faith and in her love for her family and friends. She was a beautiful loving soul whom we will forever love and forever miss.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband Don C Taylor, her parents Frank and Rose Aguiar and her in-laws John and Ruth Taylor.

She is survived by her son Don Taylor, her daughter and son-in-law Danielle and Mike Wood. Her grandchildren Cameron Taylor, Shelby Wood, and Kelsey Wood. Her siblings Rosemarie Vieira, Mary Mount (Glenn), Frank Aguiar (Beverly), Michelle Moreno and Melissa Clark-Rolicheck (Matt). 

A rosary will be recited on August 10, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 671 East Yosemite Avenue, Merced followed by a Memorial Mass at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made in Patricia’s memory to Hinds Hospice, P O Box 763, Merced, or St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Merced.

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