Helen was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 13, 1932, the only daughter of Hanna and Earl Russell. She was a child of the Great Depression. In spite of this her father always considered Friday the 13th his lucky day. Her only sibling, a brother, was born three years later.

Her early schooling paved the way for a lifetime of learning and sharing her passion for education with all. She attended schools in Philadelphia and graduated as valedictorian from Rome High School in 1949. College followed with graduation, with honors, from Mansfield University. Her first teaching position was junior high school science at Mary Muldoon Junior High School in Waverly, New York.

Two years later she was asked to return to her college alma mater to join the staff as a supervisor in the campus training school. Here she met her future husband, Bill Taylor. She often said she gave up a master for a missus. They were married on July 7, 1956 at St. James Episcopal Church in Mansfield, Pennsylvania. Three children followed — Reenie in 1957, William in 1959 and Tom in 1961.

The five Taylors left Pennsylvania for California and UCLA, where Bill had been awarded a National Institute of Health Scholarship in Pediatric Immunology. They were now official California residents.

The family moved to Montreal, Canada in 1973/74. Here they learned French and learned to love hockey. Helen volunteered in a French immersion kindergarten.

Helen resumed teaching in California from 1974 until her retirement in 1982. She became the district’s top mentor, consultant, presenter and facilitator. She held lifetime certification in both elementary and secondary education in California and secondary education in both Pennsylvania and New York.

At retirement Helen was one of ten teachers selected to be mentors for the State of California. Her area was elementary science. She continued her career at Chapman University as a lecturer in methods in general science.

Helen and Bill retired and moved to a farm home they had designed and had built near Fallbrook. In 2002 they sold the farm and moved to Arcata, where they lived until her death on July 16, with her family at her bedside.

In Arcata, Helen volunteered each week with a “Hands On” science lesson for elementary students. Almost everyone knew her as Grandma Taylor.

Helen was the recipient of many awards and acknowledgments during her career, including being nominated for the President’s Award for Excellence in the Classroom. But her greatest award was instilling into young adults a love of nature and learning, and a desire and willingness to aim high.

Helen and Bill traveled extensively, bicycling six times in Europe, and also in China and Russia. They visited every state in the U.S. almost all National Parks in the U.S. and Canada. They canoed, sailed, and skied whenever possible. She was a member of P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) since 1970, serving in all offices.

She was preceded in death by her parents, only brother, and husband. She is survived by children and grandchildren: Reenie Taylor Boyer and husband Greg Boyer of Honolulu; William Taylor, M.D. and wife Carolyn Taylor of Del Mar, California; Thomas Taylor, M.D. and wife Erin Taylor of Arcata; grandchildren Natalie Taylor, Sarah Taylor, Andrea Taylor, and Sandy Taylor of Del Mar and Will Taylor, Russ Taylor, Jack Taylor of Arcata; and two great-grandchildren, Taylor and Ellie Simon.

Helen was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Christ Church Scholarship fund or to the charity of your choice.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Helen Taylor’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.