Bernadette Juliette Taylor was born March 31, 1918 to Marie and Harry Lander in Quimper, France. Her mother, a native of France, and her father, an American soldier in Europe during WWI, brought her to the United States after the war.

Bernadette and her parents briefly resided in Nevada before moving to Kodiak, Alaska, where her father became a Bering Sea fisherman. In a class of ten students, she was the first girl to graduate from Kodiak High School. Bernadette and three boys graduated. The valedictorian passed his scholarship to the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, Alaska, to Bernadette, the salutatorian. While in Fairbanks, Bernadette met and married Joseph Walter Taylor from Boulder, Colorado. It was love at first sight for the couple.

She returned to Kodiak with her husband and they had three children, Joanne, Cecilia, and Joe. Bernadette's father, Harry Lander, named one of his boats "Joanne" after his eldest granddaughter. Years after the earthquake and tsunami of 1964 in Alaska, a long-time resident of Kodiak told the Taylor family that after the tidal wave, the log house which Bernadette's father, Harry Lander, had built himself by Marine Way was still standing until later disassembled.

Bernadette was a devoted and adored wife and mother. She could hardly wait for summer vacation every year, so she could spend more time with her children. Her children have many fond memories of wonderful picnics, fishing trips, boat trips and berry picking. One of the daughters continues to return to Kodiak for visits whenever possible.

In the summer of 1959, the Taylor family moved to Lompoc, California. It was also a small town and a great place to raise their children. They attended the La Purisima Catholic Church, and one of the daughters attended La Purisima Catholic School.

At 71 years old, Bernadette was widowed as Walt, her beloved husband of nearly 50 years, passed away in the fall of 1989. After many happy years in Lompoc, at the age of 90, Bernadette Taylor passed away on Sunday, August 17, 2008. She is survived by her three children, Joanne Karbin of Lompoc, California, Cecilia Rizzo of Huntington Beach, California, Joseph Taylor of Lompoc, California, four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled on Sunday, August 24, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary in Lompoc, with a small service taking place the following day, Monday, August 25, 2008 at 10 a.m., also at the mortuary. Burial will follow at the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery. Contributions can be made to the American Heart Association.

As the cherished memories of a feisty, fun-loving, dedicated wife and mother live on, she will be forever missed and loved in our hearts.