Edith Annie Taylor ‘Dee’ Cloke
Born In: Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada
Born: April 27th, 1932
Passed in: Portage, Michigan, United States
Edith Annie Taylor ‘Dee’ Cloke, 80, of Portage, Michigan, USA, passed away on June 9, 2012, in Kalamazoo, MI.
Dee, as she was known to friends and acquaintances, was born April 27, 1932, in Sydney Mines, Cape Breton, N.S., to Lillian and John Taylor.
Dee graduated from high school in Sydney Mines. She graduated a year behind her class in order to spend a year taking care of her mother during an illness. After high school she attended nursing school in Boston at Children’s Hospital while staying with her aunt, also a nurse. She went on to work as a paediatric nurse in several hospitals. While in Boston, she met her future husband, Paul L. Cloke, at a dance. They married April 9, 1955, in Butte, Montana, where Paul was working. They had their first child there, Carol Anne, who only lived for a few days. Carol is buried there. Dee moved with Paul to Michigan and had two more children.
In addition to raising kids, Dee attended the First Baptist Church for a time, was active with young children, and enjoyed outdoor activities and the local farms and countryside. Dee was fond of gardening, music and dancing. A favourite Sunday activity was to go for a drive in the country. Dee moved to Columbus, OH for a short time and then to Las Vegas. After retirement from Paul’s last job, they moved to Prescott, AZ where they spent their final years together.
Dee learned to play organ and would often play for friends and family. She spent her last year in Portage, MI by daughter Nancy and grandchildren Benjamin and Katherine.
She is survived by sisters Grace (Roy Harding), Laura, and Nancy (Bob Carley), children Nancy Thelen and Steven Cloke, grandchildren Katherine Thelen, Benjamin Thelen and Mia Cloke, several nieces and nephews and cousins. She is also survived by Lorna Cloke and Bernie (BJ) Thelen.
She was predeceased by her parents, Paul Cloke (spouse), Robert Taylor (brother), Jean Sheppard (half-sister), Carol Anne Cloke (infant daughter), one niece and one nephew.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 23, 2012, at 9 a.m. in Prescott, AZ.
Arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Kalamazoo, MI. Please visit Dee’s personalized webpage at www.langelands.com.
