Legacy Helps Students in Perpetuity
La Verne and Donald Taylor
Donald and La Verne Taylor lived their retirement years on their 700-acre farm outside of Harrison, Idaho. The farm, which had belonged to La Verne's parents and where she grew up, provided the Taylors the opportunity to return to the farming lifestyle they loved.
During their lifetime, they generously invested in student scholarships at North Idaho College and enjoyed receiving thank you letters from the student scholarship recipients. Additionally, Donald and La Verne created a thoughtful estate plan to ensure their scholarship donations would be funded in perpetuity.
La Verne passed away in 2012 and Donald in 2018. Through their legacy plan, they funded the Donald and La Verne Taylor Memorial Scholarship endowment to forever provide hope and opportunity for NIC students. "Donald and La Verne were a lovely couple, and they wanted to encourage young people to pursue their interests and career goals despite the challenges. We are honored to steward their wishes and to be a recipient of their lasting legacy to help students follow their dreams," says NIC Foundation Executive Director Rayelle Anderson. "They both came from humble backgrounds, and through hard work, education and perseverance, they built a wonderful life and achieved great success."
When he was young, Donald lived in Joseph, Idaho, an isolated area between Hells Canyon and the Salmon River. The family raised cattle, sheep and other crops. Eventually, they moved to Greenacres, Wash., where Donald went to high school. After graduation, he attended Eastern Washington Teachers College. He and his brother were members of the Washington Air National Guard Band and were called to active duty during the Korean War.
A former North Idaho College student herself, La Verne Taylor and her husband, Donald, knew the impact of a college education on a young person's life. With their legacy gift, the Taylors enable countless students to aim higher and dream bigger.
After the war, they traveled throughout the Northwest performing concerts and in parades. Donald found work as a machinist in Renton, Wash., when La Verne encouraged him to go back to college. He enrolled at the University of Washington and completed his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He landed a job with Boeing where he worked for 30 years. He completed a master's degree and was promoted to a supervisory level. Donald worked with every 7xx-series aircraft at Boeing. When the 777 was certified for service, Donald retired.
La Verne, who attended NIC from 1949 through 1950, had a successful teaching career. She was head of the mathematics department at Chief Sealth High School in Seattle. La Verne and one of her students were awarded a trip to the Kennedy Space Center to witness the launch of the Discovery Space Shuttle, where they were seated in the VIP stand with the families of the shuttle crew.
The Taylors believed in providing students the opportunity to achieve their dreams.
"La Verne and I feel that there are many talented, young people that see college as beyond their reach and settle for jobs that provide a paycheck but little future growth," said Donald. "While student loans might enable a young person to go to college, it can result in a burden upon graduation."
Donald and La Verne created a legacy plan, which included a will and family trust, that outlined their final wishes to distribute their assets to loved ones as well as several charitable organizations.
To learn how your future gift can create hope and opportunity for North Idaho College students to pursue their goals and career aspirations, contact Rayelle Anderson, Executive Director, at (208) 769-5978 or foundation@nicfoundation.org.
