Legacy of Shirley Celio Taylor lives on through South Lake Tahoe area nonprofits
Submitted by paula on Sun, 08/08/2021 - 7:36pm
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Many on the South Shore are aware of the Celio family and the legacy that lives on through the historic family ranch on South Upper Truckee Road in Meyers.
That legacy will now live on through generous donations made from the estate of Shirley Taylor, a Celio family member who passed away on March 16, 2020 at the age of 83. She left instructions to give the proceeds of her estate to the Lake Tahoe Historical Society, El Dorado County Historical Society, Humane Society of Tahoe-Truckee, Secret Witness, the South Lake Tahoe Cancer League and Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe.
"She appreciated the work of these six non-profits," said her cousin Miles Celio at a reception Sunday where the checks were handed out.
Taylor spent summers at the Celio Ranch while growing up. Her mother later inherited it, then after she died in 1985, Shirley moved there full time after retiring from Pacific Bell where she was a mapmaker.
Carlo Guiseppe Celio ended up in the Placerville with his brother after leaving his native Switzerland in search of gold. He took his earnings and bought a dairy farm in the area and then came into Lake Tahoe and homesteaded in Lake Valley in 1857. He and his wife Maria raised their 5 sons in both Lake Tahoe and Placerville and grew their holdings to 4,000 acres. C. G. Celio and Sons were once the largest employer on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. They took their small beginning as a dairy farm and developed it into a very large business. Their four branches kept many busy as well honoring contracts to keep the roads plowed and running electricity to the area. The Celios were even responsible for laying the stone mile markers along Highway 50 from Placerville to South Lake Tahoe. The family would stay at the ranch from spring to fall, each journey with the dairy cattle and their belongings. They also owned the town of Meyers.
Today, the ranch is 103 acres and when Shirley lived there, she worked hard to restore and preserve the land. She re-roofed, re-sided and refurbished the buildings, including the stately home and barn that are familiar to all that drive by. She fenced and cleared meadows and pastures, managed the surrounding forest by cutting and trimming trees and clearing brush to create a fire-safe land, cut firewood and boarded horses. Most of the work she did herself.
Shirley was also a volunteer in the community which lead to the donations outlined in her will.
Although not a member of the Soroptimist of South Lake Tahoe club, she joined her friend Del Laine in helping the group in the community. She also volunteered for the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office and rode horseback in the backcountry for the US Forest Service.
Part of her legacy lives on at the Lake Tahoe Historical Society's (LTHS) museum in South Lake Tahoe. She let the museum borrow equipment and tools for their farming display from the ranch. LTHS found out later that she said, upon her death, they were to keep everything she had lent to them.
"Shirley loved Lake Tahoe, and she loved the Historical Society," said Miles.
She was also instrumental it getting the Celio Family mural on the side of Meeks Lumber in Meyers.
During the check presentation some of the groups shared some of what they'd do with their donation in honoring Shirley's legacy. LTHS will finish its restoration of the historic Osgood Toll house and be able to be sustainable for years to come. Soroptimists will use the money in South Lake Tahoe schools for their program to teach youth safety and their program, A Fighting Chance. The Humane Society said they'd be able to strengthen their services on the South Shore, and the Cancer League will be able to continue services to local patients. Funds will also help Secret Witness offer rewards for unsolved crimes.