Heart of the flock

Today, watching over Frances Taylor

The Times' excellent articles on Frances Taylor [Special Investigation, Part One: "The fleecing of Frances Taylor," Times page one, Dec. 2, and Part Two: "Homeowners in debt, seniors prime targets of riskiest loans," page one, Dec. 3] left one part of the story untold, and that was the positive role played by her church, Green Lake Church of Seventh-day Adventists.

Frances Taylor was an intelligent woman whose mental acuity diminished slowly as Alzheimer's increased its hold on her. Always fiercely independent, she was adamant about living in her home without interference from anyone.

As her abilities declined, church members, cherishing this charter member in their midst, assisted her in many ways, enabling her to continue to live on her terms.

Members contacted social-service agencies. They were told nothing could be done.

When Mrs. Taylor failed to appear in church one weekend and her phone went unanswered, members investigated. A trip to the nearest police precinct produced no information. Subsequently, they discovered that Mrs. Taylor had had an automobile accident in another town.

No longer able to drive, she was transported to and from church each week by a rotation of church members (and still is).

As senior member of the choir, she continued to occupy her customary place in the loft years beyond the time when she was able to find or sing the music. One of the loving women in her section sat next to her and managed her music for her.

Rather than "distancing themselves from her" ["Cold fleece," Northwest Voices, Dec. 7], choir members continued to embrace her as an important part of the group. Concerned that she might not be providing good nutrition for herself, members enrolled her in the Meals on Wheels program. Arrangement was made for a "personal shopper" from the congregation to purchase groceries for her.

Church members, learning about Tyrone Dash, initiated action on that situation.

Mrs. Taylor's story is not fully told without including the positive role played by the Green Lake Church of Seventh-day Adventists, a congregation that truly tries to live out in actuality that which is professed personally and from the pulpit.

Virginia Bock Brown lives in Seattle.