With grace and style, Nathelle Taylor Greenleaf passed away at age 96 on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012. Her whimsy, wit and creativeness will not easily be duplicated. One of a kind for sure, she was born Nathelle Rosari Meaghan, the youngest of the 12 children of James Joseph and Dimphina (Tellemans) in Estelline, South Dakota on October 24, 1915.

While working in Minneapolis, Nathelle met John B. Taylor (Jack) on a blind date in 1933. They married six years later and were the parents of two daughters, Nathelle Dean and Pamela Francis (Francesca). Married life took them to Detroit, Cincinnati, Chicago and finally to her favorite city – San Francisco. A move to San Carlos, CA followed a few years later.

Jack Taylor died suddenly in 1952, leaving Nathelle a widow at age 36. Eventually she began what would be a 20 year career at Saks 5th Avenue on Maiden Lane in San Francisco.

In 1976 she married Lee Greenleaf and moved to Pauma Valley, CA. She was widowed once again in 1980 and remained in Pauma Valley for the next 20 years before moving to downtown San Diego in 1999.

Over a span of 40 years, Nathelle traveled the world. By rail she rode on The Orient Express, The Blue Train in South Africa and The Royal Scotsman. She went down the Nile and up in a hot air balloon and visited most of the European countries as well as Asia, Russia, India and Australia.

At age 90, in 2005, she moved to Portland to be closer to her oldest daughter and four grandchildren and their families. Nathelle loved the energy of the downtown area and lived in the Pear District for 5 years before moving into assisted living at The Springs in 2010.

The family would like to thank the staff of The Springs at Tanasbourne for the care Nathelle received during the time she resided there.

Funeral Mass

12: pm ,Saturday, April 14, 2012
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
1623 NW 19th Avenue Portland, OR 97209
Notes: Internment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Colma, California at a later date.