With many fond memories I think of Thelma. A lady kind to people and animals. A person who would give me guidance when it was needed. Thelma could do anything she set her mind to, even build a big A-frame and go trail riding up in the hills. Her horse Sierra Deyna won the Wolverine ride one year, but was disqualified for having two riders. The other riders horse had gone lame. A spot in my heart always for such a wonderful person and her family.

This year I spent some time in Artesia, NM with my cousin Janis St. Louis and we added some fresh flowers on my mothers headstone that Marc and Jeanette picked out for mom when we did her graveside service with the Taylor family a few years ago. My Aunt Louise my mothers oldest sister 90 years old in 2017 who lives in Pecos, Texas has been putting out fresh seasonal flowers and care taking for my grandparents grave site headstone for a long time and has instilled this as a tradition with her daughter and many other of the Taylor family members. I posted the picture of my 2017 Thanksgiving visit to the Woodbine Cemetery in Artesia, NM here. I also posted a link to this site that Susan Melton (Cole) has sponsored on my Facebook page. Mother, "I miss you more each passing year!". With Love for you I will always remember the picture you gave to me as a teenager with the  Corinthian’s 13-4 passage “Love is patient and kind; Love is not jealous or boastful arrogant or, rude; Love does not insist upon its own way; Love rejoices in the right; Love hopes all things, endures all things; Love believes all things...” - I love and miss you so much mom... Thank you for all you did for me and giving life and your love to all in our family.

From Carol Bartlett: 
Thelma reached out to me in friendship. I used to walk my kids' dog by her house, and the Shelties would let her know all about it. One day she invited me up on her porch to rest a bit, and I went. We immediately hit it off, and I looked forward to my afternoon visits with her. She was always in good spirits and ever the good hostess, would offer me coffee. At the home health center, she quickly made friends with the other ladies, and we played many a game of cards. She always said that diamonds were a girl's best friend. (I remember that song!) We cooked together, made art projects together, and did a lot of chatting. She faced her challenges with grace and dignity. 

Thelma played a very important part in my life. She really lifted up my spirits when I was going through some hard times with my friend Nancy.

I was blessed to have her in my life, and will never forget her lively spirit. She faced her challenges with grace and dignity. 

Your friend and Thelma's,

Carol Bartlett

Thelma was deathly afraid of snakes. She liked to tell the story of how when she was a little child on their ranch in New Mexico, her mother found her sitting in her sandbox with a big rattlesnake coiled up near her. Her mom snatched her away and called for her dad, but until that happened she didn't know that she was supposed to be afraid. After that she never wanted to go near a snake!.

One time when we were visiting at the A-Frame, Jason lost a garter snake in her basement. We just started quietly looking for it. We hunted and hunted for it but never found it, so we just decided the best course of action was to never mention it to her. As far as I know she never found it so I guess it got outside on its own.

One thing she was known for in the family was sewing all of us these giant ‘poof chairs’, really huge round pillows that easily took the place of a couch or easy chair. The kids played, cuddled, watched TV and slept in those chairs. In a sense those big comfy chairs represented the type of physical and emotional comfort that Mother always provided to her friends and family.

Those we love don't go away,
They walk beside us every day,
Unseen, unheard, but always near,
Still loved, still missed and very dear.
~Unknown

Thelma was a wonderful grandmother. I loved the summers of my childhood spent with her. Riding horses, making ice cream, jumping on the trampoline, baking brownies, making hard-boiled egg "babies", and playing pool in the basement. The summers were wonderful and because my Grandma made them wonderful.