Marilyn Gail Taylor Whitmore

Marilyn Gail Taylor Whitmore, 65, passed away August 23, 2017. She was born July 19, 1952 to Leo Lloyd Taylor and Helen Powers Taylor.

In her youth, she was active in the Medford First United Methodist Church, exuberantly sharing her musical talents and loving spirit. She graduated from North Medford High School, received a bachelor degree in music from Southern Oregon University, and a master degree from the University of Texas in San Antonio, Texas. She married Thomas Miller Whitmore June 19, 1993 in San Antonio, Texas, where they made their home, and in 1995 welcomed their daughter Julia. Marilyn and Tom truly delighted in being parents, surrounding Julia with music, opportunity, adventures in nature, and love.

Marilyn spent her life learning, sharing, composing, and teaching music. Often she would wake from a dream, inspired to compose something new. Classically trained, she also loved American folk, bluegrass and sacred music. She was a one-woman band, playing piano, guitar, violin, cello, French horn, flute, and mandolin. Her love of music helped sustain her through years of illness. She was the organist for St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, a music instructor at Hector Garcia Middle School, and a private music teacher. She had the blessing of being part of a wonderful extended family of uncles, aunts, and cousins who every year gathered at camp-out reunions, in the natural world that Marilyn knew and loved. Her clear voice rang through the forest when she brought her own songs as well as traditional music to share around the campfire. Marilyn was incredibly versatile, with a child-like openness and wonder that enabled her to enjoy almost any activity. During her life she engaged in gardening; canning; bee-keeping; sewing; auto mechanics; jewelry making; piano tuning; painting; and of course, foremost, her daughter, husband, and family. She inspired so many people, as she shared her interests and knowledge. Marilyn with her gentle and strong spirit, led us on fun, light-hearted adventures, with a twinkle in her eye, and sense of humor, being encouraging and supportive. Marilyn was the embodiment of creativity, love and joy in life.

Marilyn is survived by her loving husband Tom in San Antonio; daughter, Julia in Shanghai, China; and brothers, Melvin (Sue) Taylor of Sherwood, Oregon and Wayne (Linda) Taylor of Fullerton, California; five nieces; and a nephew.

A celebration of Marilyn’s life and interment will be held Monday, February 26, at 2:30 p.m at Perl Funeral Home at Siskiyou Memorial Park, 2100 Siskiyou Blvd, Medford.