Hattie Mae Taylor Mattoon

Hattie Mae Taylor Mattoon passed away peacefully at her home in Corning on April 20, 2024, at the age of 92. Hattie was a beloved 2nd grade schoolteacher at West Street School in Corning for 28 years. She was well known in Corning for being as sweet and fun as she was tenacious. She was born Hattie Mae Hardy on July 17, 1931, in McAllister, Oklahoma to James and Cora Hardy. When she was six years old, during the terrible Midwest dust storms of 1937, Hattie and her family traveled West to California, ultimately settling in the town of Vina. Hattie attended first grade in Vina, however, she would attend schools throughout California as her family followed the harvests as fruit pickers. Hattie and her family always returned to the Corning area once the seasons were done. She graduated from eighth grade at West Street School in Corning and then completed two years at Corning Union High School. At age 16, Hattie left school after her sophomore year when she married Theodore “Ted” Taylor. Two sons soon followed, Daniel L. “Danny” Taylor in October 1948 and David S. Taylor in November 1950. She was a devoted wife and mother who always put her family first. During those early years, Hattie worked at the Sun Valley olive plant on the sorting belt earning $1.15 an hour. After nine years at the olive plant, Hattie decided that life was not for her, and she made the decision to seek a new career. With some encouragement from her mother-in-law, Hattie decided to seek a degree and embark on a teaching career. Despite not having graduated high school, Hattie enrolled at Chico State University. She worked tirelessly for seven semesters, including summer sessions, holiday sessions, and correspondence courses, graduating in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. She did her student teaching in Gerber, California and then in the fall of 1959, she officially became a teacher at West Street Elementary School in Corning. Generations of Corning school children grew to adore her over her 28 years of teaching. Everyone wanted to be in Mrs. Taylor’s 2nd grade class. She is remembered for her annual circus that she put on at the memorial hall with each student filling the role of ringmaster, lion tamer, clown, or acrobat. Hattie was a proud member of the Xi Mi Chi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. Hattie and her sorority sisters worked tirelessly for many years on service projects donating time, money, and efforts to better the community. She shared a close bond of sisterhood with her sorority members, and they always managed to sneak in some fun, with Hattie and her sister Jessie usually the ringleaders. Hattie was also a longtime member of the Wilcox Oaks Golf and Country Club in Red Bluff, California. She was an avid golfer and loved the game, which she passed on to her sons and grandchildren. She played golf at courses all over the United States and Canada. In her retirement years, well into her 80s, she could be found on the course multiple times each week and winning something at almost every tournament she entered. Hattie loved life and was never content to sit still. During her lifetime she loved to houseboat on Shasta Lake and waterski with her sons, travel with her husband and family, and participate in regular golf tournaments. Among her notable accomplishments were being nominated for National Teacher of the Year in 1979 and being named Citizen of the Year by the Corning Chamber of Commerce in 2005. Hattie was also a proud citizen of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma with Native American ancestry in both the Chickasaw and Choctaw tribes. Hattie is predeceased by her parents James and Cora Hardy, her sister Jessie “Jake” Meents, and her brother Lee Hardy. Also, her first husband Ted Taylor, her second husband Norman “Bud” Mattoon, her son Daniel Taylor, daughter-in-law Linda Taylor, and her stepdaughter Marilyn Dantche. Hattie is survived by her son David Taylor (Kathy) of Phoenix, Arizona, and four grandchildren Clifton Taylor (Isabel) of Truckee; Marti Taylor (Leilani) of Roseville; Larry Taylor (Tammi) of Chico and Kristine Ekstrom of St. Helens, Oregon. She was also beloved by her eight great-grandchildren: Camilla Taylor; Amelia Taylor; Lyla Taylor; Colin Taylor; Theo Taylor; Austyn Ekstrom; Bryant Ekstrom and Jaycob Sundeen. She is also survived by her sister Donna Morris of Corning. A funeral service will be held Friday, May 3, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Hall Brother’s Mortuary in Corning with a celebration of life to follow at 1:00 p.m. at Carlino’s in the North Tower at Rolling Hills Casino.

Hattie Mae Taylor Mattoon

July 17, 1931 - April 20, 2024

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Hattie Mae Taylor Mattoon

July 17, 1931 - April 20, 2024

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