Taylor-Puffenberger, Gertrude Erna

Gertrude Erna Taylor-Puffenberger, an Arizona native, born in 
Phoenix in 1914. She died February 11, 2010 at the age of 95. 
Gertrude was always proud of the fact her great grandfather, 
B.A. Hadsell, came to Arizona from Kansas in 1891. He is 
credited for founding the town of Buckeye, and laying out the 
town of Glendale as a temperance colony. Her mother, Mamie 
Taylor, graduated class 1907 from Tempe Normal, now A.S.U. 
Her father, Arthur Taylor, also attended Tempe Normal then 
went on to become a real estate investor/broker. Many of the 
streets in Glendale and Phoenix were named after the Taylor 
family, including Melvin Street and Taylor Street. The new 
A.S.U. dorm "Taylor Place" has been named after the Taylor's. 
Gertrude graduated from Phoenix College and was in the Ete 
Chi Sorority for over 70 years, an alumni in the Half Century 
Club. She was active in the First Families of Arizona. She was 
a member of the Bible Baptist Church in Phoenix for many 
years and was always active in helping the needs of others. 
She supported the Arizona Arthritis Foundation. She and her 
husband, John, belonged to the Good Sam's RV travel group 
for many years. She loved having all her "brood" around for 
dinners and birthdays. Any excuse to fix a dinner or going out 
with friends or family. Her home was always a gathering place. 
Gertrude always had a smile for everyone. She was always 
available to help with family, friends and church. Surviving her 
is a son, Charles McCoy; three daughters, Mary Smith, Maxine 
Antes and Charlotte Anderson; five grandchildren, Deborah 
Reis, Bradley Rhoton, Rick Crandall, Ron Crandall, and Michele 
Anderson; five great-grandchildren, Joshua Gerace, Thomas 
Rhoton, Emily Rhoton, Stephanie Anderson-Stuart and 
Samantha Crandall; one great great-grandson, Tristin Gerace. 
We will all miss our loving mother and grandmother. Funeral 
services will be held at 11 A.M., Tuesday, February 16, 2010, at 
A.L. Moore Grimshaw Mortuary, 710 W. Bethany Home Road, 
Phoenix, AZ 85013. Burial will be at the Greenwood Memory 
Lawn Cemetery following the funeral. 

Published in The Arizona Republic on February 14, 2010