Elda Rae Taylor, 72, "went home to be with her Lord" on Jan. 30, 2008, with her husband and children at her bedside.

Elda was born Feb. 4, 1935, in Big Oak Flat, Calif., to James and Edna Mapston. She and her family moved to Polson in 1947. She graduated from Bigfork High School in 1953.

She married Paul W. Taylor, from Columbia Falls, on Sept. 11, 1954. Over a period of 40 years they raised four of their own children and over 100 foster children.

Elda was a woman who loved the Lord and expressed that in all she did. Elda loved children and being involved in teaching activities. She taught Sunday school, was Sunday school superintendent for many years, Pioneer Girls leader, Awana leader, and involved in many ladies Bible study groups at First Baptist Church of Polson.

She and Paul helped to begin the Polson Alliance Church in their home where Elda was also a teacher and Sunday school superintendent. They were also involved in mission trips to Mexico with Youth With a Mission.

She taught kindergarten for several years.

Elda was very creative from a young age and enjoyed sketching, painting, sculpting, writing and crafts of all kinds. She was an avid dog lover, trainer, breeder and dog sled musher. She loved the outdoors - hiking, camping, swimming and gardening.

Elda and Paul moved to Sierraville, Calif., in August of 2005 where they have enjoyed their retirement years on the Wallace Ranch. They have been actively involved in the Community Church of Loyalton since moving to California.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her brother, Jimmy Mapston.

She is survived by her brother, Don Mapston, and his wife, Carla, of Conroe, Texas; sister in-law, Ruth Mapston, of Apple Valley, Minn.; husband, Paul; and children, Diane Rice of Ronan, Penny Warren of Polson, Danny Taylor of Loyalton, Calif., Bonita Wallace of Sierraville, and Kirn Cummins of Missoula; nine grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of her life will be at 5 p.m., Feb. 2, at the Community Church of Loyalton.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Community Church of Loyalton for the Kids Care Mission. Donations can be sent to the following address: Community Church of Loyalton, P.O. Box 326, Loyalton, CA 96118.