New Hampton ---- Evelyn M. Taylor, 88, of New Hampton, passed away, begrudgingly, on Oct. 10, 2024. She was born on Oct. 18, 1935, to Bernard and Lucille King. She attended Meredith schools, but graduated from Laconia High School. In her senior year she met the very handsome David MacDonald. They were married soon after and started their family. They had six children, Marie, Beth, Laurie, David Jr., Rodney and Gary.
Being born during the Great Depression, Evelyn learned from a very young age to be thrifty. She was an experienced seamstress and made most of her and our own clothes. She also donated her sewing skills to the Arthritis Foundation. She enjoyed writing poetry, fishing, gardening, cooking and dancing. She even had her own juke box. She and David loved to go clamming and she often said having six underage kids came in handy, as you could get so many more clams.
She was an excellent cook. She could make anything taste good, except cow tongue. When we were in elementary school, mom and dad had our bull butchered. Ever resourceful, mom used every part. She sent us to school with cow tongue sandwiches. We could not trade lunches with anyone. David Jr. says her biscuits and pancakes were the best. She made homemade root beer for us kids and dandelion and rhubarb wine for herself and dad (even though us kids snuck generous samples for ourselves).
She became a widow at age 37. As a result, she entered the workforce. She held jobs at various manufacturing companies and at Annalee Dolls. She was a very hard working lady into her later years and beyond. She was also a proud breast cancer survivor.
In 1989, she met and married James Taylor. They have been married 35 years. We thank Jim for his dedicated care to mom, as she faced many medical obstacles in her later years.
She is survived by husband Jim Taylor; daughters, Beth MacDonald and partner Leslie Dickey of Alexandria, Laurie Jordan of Northfield, David MacDonald Jr. of New Hampton, Rodney MacDonald and fiancée Dolores Batchelder of New Hampton, and Gary MacDonald and fiancée Cheryl Puleo of Piermont. She is also survived by Jim's children Chris, Hope, Ginger, Valerie and James. She has nine grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her first husband, David MacDonald Sr., Weymouth Sargent Sr., daughter Marie MacDonald, son-in-law Tom Jordan, her parents, and her brother, Wayne King.
A celebration of life will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18 (her birthday), at the VFW, 143 Court St., Laconia. No outside drinks are allowed. There is a cash bar for alcoholic beverages. All other beverages will be provided for. Burial will be private at a later date.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.