Sami Rae Taylor of Hermiston passed away on Jan. 3, 2019 in Hermiston surrounded by loved ones at the age of 73.
She was born on May 1, 1945 in Colville, Wash. to Newell and Jessica Bestrom Wilson.
Sami met the love of her life, Donald Taylor, in 1972. The couple were united in marriage on Jan. 23, 1973 in Yakima, Wash. They lived in Wapato, Wash., where they worked a ranch until moving to Hermiston in 1976. In Hermiston they built Frasu’s Restaurant, which they operated until 1991. In 1990 they opened a second restaurant in Yakima, Wash., Marti’s, which they operated for several years. Sami then worked as a manager of Shari’s restaurant in Hermiston. Next, she took a position as an outside sales representative for Sysco Foods while also helping her husband run a cattle ranch in Starkey and a wheat ranch near Cayuse. She was affectionately known by family and friends as an unstoppable force.
When the couple retired, they enjoyed many trips to Alaska, Canada, Nevada, the Blue Mountains and the Oregon coast. Sami was an avid supporter of St. Jude Children’s Hospital, a horse lover, businesswoman, a loyal friend, and beloved wife, mother and grandmother.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 46 years, Donald of Hermiston; children, Stephen (Shawna) Taylor of Hermiston, Jamie (Simon) Meacham of Washington, D.C., Angie Lane of Spokane, Wash. and Alise Cortez of Dallas, Texas; 12 grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Sandra.
A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019 at 10 a.m. at Burns Mortuary Chapel, 685 W. Hermiston Ave.
