Patricia Taylor

When someone you love becomes a memory,
the memory becomes a treasure.

Obituary

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Patricia Ann Taylor, age 87, of McLean, VA. She passed away peacefully at her home on October 18, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on August 16, 1938, in Lafayette, Indiana, to Frank and Alice Woolley, the third born of seven children.

Patty attended W&L High School in Arlington, VA where she met “Goodie” whom she married in 1958. They went on to be married for 58 years and had three children together. Patty and Goodie purchased property in Bethany Beach, DE in 1968 and built their much beloved beach house where many family and friends stayed and shared a tasty grilled tomato and cheese sandwich. In 1987 the Taylors became the owners of the Hotel St. Francis in Santa Fe, NM. At the hotel, Patty was known for her unique abilities including; running day to day operations, individually decorating each of the 82 rooms, and organizing a well known afternoon high tea.

Patty was a teacher to all. She is remembered affectionately by her beloved grandchildren for her organization of “Camp Awesome Grandma” at the beach house. Where she taught about history, hard work and critical thinking. Through the help of others, Patty crafted a book entitled, “The Symbol of ‘Liberty and Freedom’” which teaches the significance of each fold of the American flag and can be used to inform all about the importance of this patriotic act. Patty was an avid golf and tennis player; she famously stroked a hole-in-one at a tough course in Florida while playing with expert players.

She is survived by her two children: John Kirk Taylor, and Goodwin Hunt Taylor III, “Hunt”; her five grandchildren; Taylor Merriam, Margaret Merriam “Maggie”, Grace Taylor, Levi Taylor and Goodwin Hunt Taylor IV “Hunter”, and her sisters, Mary Alice Eberhard , Dorothy Thomas, Laurie Woolley and Sue McKenzie. She was preceded in death by her husband, Goodwin Hunt Taylor, Jr. daughter, Kelly Merriam, and siblings; Jeannie Clough, Kirk Woolley.

A private Mass will be held for the immediate family. A celebration of Patty’s life will be held on Saturday, March 21st from 3:00-5:00 at Washington Golf and Country Club in Arlington, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that expressions of sympathy be made through charitable donations to "Johns Hopkins University" in support of the Department of Neurology. Contributions can be mailed to the Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine, 550 N. Broadway, Suite 724, Baltimore, MD 21205, with a note designating the gift for The Department of Neurology in memory of Patty Taylor. Memorial donations may also be made online at https://secure.jhu.edu/form/neuro by selecting the Department of Neurology option.

Patty was a true matriarch to her family, a loving wife to Goodie, a beautiful example to her children and grandchildren, a loyal and devoted sister and a dear and dependable friend to many. She will always be in our hearts, as we carry on her legacy holding ourselves to high expectations, supporting each other, and pushing through challenges with determination as we continue to grow and learn because, as Patty said, “after all, tomorrow is another day.”

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