Janyce Taylor

Much loved daughter, sister, aunt and friend, Janyce Lucelle Taylor (Jan) passed away on August 8, 2020 in Orem, Utah.  She has joyfully reunited with her pre-deceased parents, Harvey and Lucelle Taylor and siblings Harvey Darrel Taylor and Betty Rosenberg.  Survived by her sister Molliemae Hatch.

Born in Pleasant View, Utah on August 19, 1924, she lived in many western states during her adult life. However, she considered Arizona, where she grew up, as her “Native Land”.  She inherited her parent’s love of the outdoors and loved the desert as a magical place that called to her spirit.  Her mother once wrote of her: “All out-of-doors was your playground, And there you wanted to stay, From dawn’s first early wakening, Until the last faint light of day.”

As a first grader Jan sat by her front door and firmly stated, “I’m not going to school!”  Her mother calmly said:  “Ok, just sit in that chair until you have time to think it over”.  In less than ten minutes, Jan got down from the chair and said, “I guess I’ll go to school”.  Once started, she just kept going until, ultimately, she graduated with a Doctoral degree in education. She enjoyed a career in education that spanned from 1951 to 1969.

Jan inherited her father’s love of teaching.  She taught English and Biology in secondary schools in Utah and California.  At Utah State University and then the University of Utah, she taught secondary-education majors, teaching methods classes, and supervised their student teaching.

She received an award for ‘distinguished teaching’ from the University of Utah in 1966. After retiring in 1969, Jan enjoyed traveling with friends and family from Europe to the South Pacific.

A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Jan served her church as a teacher in Primary, Young Women, Relief Society and adult Sunday school.  Twice she served as a Relief Society President, once in Texas and again while living in Orem, Utah.  She also was an ordinance worker in the Provo Temple.

She loved to visit with her many nieces and nephews who were treated to her sweet sense of humor and twinkling blue eyes.  Jan was a passionate gardener and lover of cats and dogs which brought her great joy.  She showed her Maine Coon cats, achieving Grand Champion for one and Supreme Grand Champion for the other.  Jan shared her love of animals with her dear and loving friend of many years she considered family, Barbara Yerrington.  Barbara’s dog, Sydney brought a lot of joy to Jan.  Barbara and Jan enjoyed many journeys including a 5-day Green River rafting trip and a 5-day wilderness horseback adventure in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Survived by sister, Molliemae Hatch of Gilbert, AZ, numerous loving nieces and nephews, Barbara Yerrington, Linda Vincent, faithful visiting teacher and friend to both Jan and Barbara, her “daughter by choice”, Julie Meyers and Julie’s family in Colorado.  Julie’s children called Jan Grandma.

The family would like to express gratitude to the wonderful caregivers at Covington Senior Living in Orem, UT for the kind and expert care they provided Jan during her last years.

A private graveside service will be held at East Lawn Memorial Hills in Provo, UT.

The Facebook live link is https://www.facebook.com/sundbergolpinfuneralhome and can be seen the day of the services.

Condolences may be expressed to the family on this page.