Ruth Laurette Taylor

RUTH LAURETTE TAYLOR (January 28, 1933 - June 4, 2016) Ruth Laurette Taylor, age 83, was called home June 4, 2016 following a six-month battle with kidney cancer; Ruth, was beloved daughter of the late Charles Everett Taylor, and her mother, the late Laurette Cecilia Kundtz Taylor. Her paternal grandmother was Mrs. Estella May Garfield Taylor, a cousin to the 20th President of the United States, James A. Garfield. Born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida, Ruth graduated from Palm Beach High School in 1951 and was still very active in her alumni association. Ruth also raised one daughter Dana Ingram Gillette. Ruth started her career as a bank teller and bookkeeper. Later, she worked as property manager for Island House, and Number One North Ocean in Palm Beach, Florida, and was an active member of the Condo Managers Association of Palm Beach. She enjoyed helping her son-in-law Christopher Robert Gillette and Dana manage their properties. Beloved of so many people because of her memorable ability to relate to people, all her life, Ruth was always giving and truly interested in everyone, expressing such appreciation and love for her many friends, who were devoted to her. Among these friends, all through the years were Nancy Mizelle, Allyn Maix, Danny Sibley, Lucie Bohland, Mercedes Collado, Sue and Gary Allen and of course, Barry Bosworth (godfather of her grandchildren). Preceding her in death were her father and mother; her three sisters and their respective husbands, Hazel and Dean Deines, Dorothy and Joachim Panozzo, and Betty and Milton Jones. She also leaves her son-in-law and two grandchildren Alexandra Taylor Gillette, and Hayley Marie Gillette; seven nieces and nephews and their respective husbands, wives, children, and grandchildren: David and Traci Panozzo, Dorothy and Ed Richardson, Dean and Tara Deines, Jerry and Rita Panozzo, Mark Jones, Joan and Dan Stanton, and Charles and Denise Jones. Ruth had an exciting life. Some of her accomplishments were champion swimmer, springboard diver, water skier, sky diver, PADI-certified SCUBA diver, underwater photographer, alpine skier, white-water rafter, sailor, camper, golfer, tailor, carpenter, runway model, single working mom, survivor of a hot-air balloon crash in the Rocky Mountains (all the while filming the crash), and most importantly, a liberated woman. She was an adventurous traveler including trips to Europe to ski the Alps, Alaska, Rome, and a Club Med in the Caribbean. She loved driving fast, frequent swearing, the SOARIN' ride at EPCOT Center in Orlando, crossword puzzles, her daily doses of Wheel-of-Fortune and Jeopardy!, a strong Screwdriver, and all of her animals: her dogs Tinkerbell, Cutie, Mac and Velvet (and her adopted dogs Snickers and Holly), and her cats Debbie and Tigger. Ruth will be missed. A celebration of her life will be at a luncheon on Saturday, December 17, 2016 in West Palm Beach, Florida. If you are able to attend, please send your name and telephone number to Dana Gillette, 17069 Gulf Pine Circle, Wellington, Florida 33414, (561) 790-1063, or email Chris at cgillette@thehollyhockcompany.com, so we can send details about the event. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be sent in Ruth's name to Hospice of Palm Beach County, 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida 33407; (877) 494-6890. Also, please visit: http://www.thehollyhockcompany.com/rlt/RTAYLOR