Geraldine "Jerry" Duff Taylor

Jerry (Geraldine) Duff Taylor died Nov. 9, 2015, at home. She was born in Walla Walla on June 6, 1942. She was the oldest of three children born to J. Carroll and Myra Warfield Duff. Jerry attended local schools and graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1961. At an early age she began working for Duff’s Creamery, which was the family business. Upon graduation from high school she moved to Mt. Hood with her parents.

At that time, she worked for the Forest Service. In 1963, she married Lee Ploeg. She returned to Walla Walla when they divorced in 1968. While working for the Walla Walla Police Department she met Ralph Taylor and they were married in October of 1969. She began working at First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Walla Walla in 1976. She retired from Banner Bank in 2009, after 33 years of service.

Jerry loved helping others and volunteered for several organizations such as Santa’s Elves. She was a member of Narcissa Rebekah Lodge #2, Odd Fellows, and Christ Lutheran Church. In 2007, she helped start a “Red Hat” group called the Red Hot Desserts.

Jerry loved her family very much and was especially proud of her daughters’ achievements, and her 14 grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband at home; her daughters, Ann and Kyle Smith of Culdesac, Idaho, and Katharine and Dale Collins of Auburn, Wash.; brothers, Chuck and Arrista Belle Duff of Madras, Ore., and Gary Duff of Redmond, Ore. She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.

There will be a memorial service at Christ Lutheran Church, 1420 S. 2nd Ave., Walla Walla, on Dec. 3, 2015 at 2 p.m. Pastor Joel Ley will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to Walla Walla Community Hospice or Walla Walla Humane Society through Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla, WA 99362