Marion Taylor was a passionate, intelligent, physically and mentally strong woman who was fiercely independent. Born in the back of a Chinese restaurant in April 1937 in Mankota, Saskatchewan, Marion grew up with her brother, Chuck, on the Bar T Down ranch, two miles from the nearest neighbours. Her father, Bill Loewen, was a rancher, and her mother, Nina (Malasky) Loewen, was the schoolteacher for all grades 1–8 in a little one-room schoolhouse, three miles away—a journey traveled by horseback or sleigh. Marion left home at 16 to attend Luther, a boarding high school in Regina, and after graduation she went to business school. She started working for the CBC in Regina, and after transferring to the CBC office in Toronto, began writing plays for radio. Several of her one-hour plays were broadcast to acclaim. She met Bev Taylor, an electrician, at a union dance at 19. They married in 1957; their son, Dean, was born in 1962, and their daughter, Lee, followed two years later. After moving to Collingwood in 1969, Marion and Bev owned and ran the Beaconglow Motel until they sold the business in 1999 and retired to Thornbury. A force of nature, Marion raised a family and made no apologies for staying true to her principles and beliefs. She loved being eccentric and contrary and was deeply interested in more obscure topics-she became a certified Graphoanalysist, did in-depth astrology readings, and loved visiting psychics. Having read thousands of books—ranging from the history of World War II to English literary classics and countless other subjects—it was a fool’s game to enter a debate with her. Marion enjoyed cooking for her friends and family, tending a huge garden, and making intricate quilts. She loved animals of all kinds, especially dogs, and had a deep appreciation for nature in all its forms. She went dog walking every day, sometimes for hours. She was renowned for her incredible birthday and wedding cakes, and her annual tomato 'chili sauce' was legendary. She loved listening to music (she spun a lot of vinyl at the Beaconglow) and playing folk songs on her guitar late at night. She could be quite silly and loved dressing up - Halloween was one of her favourite holidays. Marion was charitable and very generous, actively supporting organizations such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Doctors Without Borders, the Canadian Cancer Society, UNESCO, and Ducks Unlimited. She made quilts to donate to local firefighters to gift to those who suffered loss and regularly dropped off baskets of food and garden excess to Beaver Valley Outreach.
After battling vascular dementia for six+ years and spending her last two years at Sunset Manor in Collingwood, Marion Taylor passed away early in the morning Sunday March 9, 2025, just shy of her 87th birthday.
A celebration of life will take place in Ontario in the spring when the weather improves. As was her wish, a ceremony for the dispersal of her ashes on the prairies will be scheduled for later this summer. The family would like to thank Tammy Moreland, and Donna Muller, who provided unwavering supportive care during Marion’s final years and months. Marion is predeceased by her husband, Bev, and is survived by her daughter, Lee; her son, Dean (Susie); her granddaughters, Daisy and Lily; her grandson, Joshua (Caroline); and her great-grandson, Morgan. Friends may visit Marion’s online Book of Memories at www.fawcettfuneralhomes.com