Mary Louise Taylor

ARLINGTON – Having finished all that the Lord needed her to do on earth, He has called her home. Mary Louise Taylor (age 77) passed away peacefully on October 20, 2026, at home, surrounded by family.

She was born on October 2, 1949, to Clarence and Frances (Vernon) Kocerha, in Simla, Colorado. She graduated from Elbert High School, in 1967, and attended Western State College, in Gunnison, Colorado, to receive a teaching/coaching degree in physical education with a minor in Spanish. While attending Western State, she met and married her cowboy, the love of her life, Charles. They were married on March 19, 1970, and were together for 57 years. For the next several years she traveled across the Western Slope and Eastern Plains of Colorado with him as they followed the cattle herds from summer grazing to winter grazing. She spent her time homemaking for him and their three daughters while cooking for the various ranching crews that Charlie worked for.

They moved to Wyoming where she finally began teaching and coaching. Across her 37-year teaching career, she taught physical education, Spanish, communication arts, student council, yearbook, Spanish club, and special education in places such as Shoshoni, WY; Elbert, Walden, Paonia, and Delta, CO; and Poynette, WI and was loved by all her students. She also coached volleyball, basketball, and track. Charlie and Mary eventually moved to Wisconsin in their later years to be near their grandkids. They also traveled multiple times to the island of Guam to visit grandkids who lived there.

Mary loved to dance and would dance all night if she could find a partner. Her favorites were the waltz and polka. She also taught her girls to dance. But her greatest joys came from watching and cheering on all her grandkids (official or unofficial) whether it was sporting events, cultural arts events, or showing livestock. She was a very familiar figure in the stands. Her arms and her home were always open to whomever was around whether working or playing and was always ready to feed them at any time.

She is survived by her cowboy husband, Charlie and their three daughters: Lynnette (Todd) Taylor; Michelle (Jason) Moyer; and Rebecca Stalbaum. She is further survived by fourteen grandchildren: Jessica (Chase) Richards, Hannah (Matthew) Brooks, Justin Taylor, Hayden Taylor, Gabriella Ching, Grayson Moyer, Adelina Moyer, Madison (Ezekiel) Byers, Melody Moyer, Halla Moyer, Garrett Moyer, Emily Taylor, Abagail Stalbaum, Margret Stalbaum, as well as one great-grandchild, Sailor Ching, and one more expected in November. She is also survived by her sisters, Glenna (Kenneth) Eldringhoff and Janet (Ted) Ellis; brothers, Richard (Judy) Kocerha, and Terry Kocerha; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Frances Kocerha; her in-laws, Nolan and Adelina Taylor; and her brother, Brian.

Huge thanks to the folks at Agrace Hospice Care for the love, care, and support they bestowed on Granny these past weeks.

Funeral services will be held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 303 Park St., Arlington, WI at 11:00am on Friday, October 30, 2026, with visitation from 9:30 to time of service, luncheon to follow, the Rev. David Juhl presiding. A committal in Colorado will be held at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to the family so that they may donate to Mary’s favorite charities, or to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 303 Park St., Arlington, WI.

Pflanz Mendrala Funeral Home, in Poynette, is assisting the family.