Obituary
Shirley Mae Taylor
February 16th, 1936 - July 27th, 2026
Shirley Mae Nelson Taylor, 90, of Idaho Falls, passed away on July 27, 2026, at her home. She was under the care of her family and Symbii Hospice.
Shirley was born on February 16, 1936, in Pocatello, Idaho, to Ephraim Alphonso Nelson and Lillian Sophia Hansen Nelson. She and her family lived in Bancroft, Idaho, until they moved to Idaho Falls when she was three years old. She attended O.E. Bell Junior High School and graduated from Idaho Falls High in 1954.
Shirley attended a semester at BYU and lived in California for a short time before serving a two-year mission in the Apia Opula Samoa Mission, where she learned to love the people there. She fondly referred to this time often in her life.
On May 3, 1962, Shirley married John Lonnie Taylor in the Idaho Falls Temple after just three months of courtship. They lived in Salt Lake City for a time before moving back to Idaho Falls. Lonnie and Shirley were blessed with their first son in 1964, followed quickly by two more sons and three daughters.
Shirley loved to spend time with her children and served as a den mother, Little League scorekeeper, paper route driver, and devoted homemaker and mother. She was involved in Scouting and helped her sons become Eagle Scouts. Her missionary spirit inspired four of her children to serve missions.
When the children were older, she worked at Highland IGA Market, Deseret Clothing, and volunteered to work the elections for decades. She served as the church librarian, a Sunday School teacher, Relief Society teacher, and a Primary teacher.
She enjoyed going on family vacations, reading, crocheting, baking homemade bread and cinnamon rolls, and bowling with her league.
She is survived by her sons: John Darrin (Laura) Taylor of Idaho Falls, ID, Brett Taylor of Springville, UT, and Douglas (Shauna) Taylor of Far West, UT; her daughters: Ann (LaVell) Pack, Linda (Robert) Beazer, and Jennifer Taylor, all of Idaho Falls, ID; 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Lonnie Taylor; her parents, Ephraim and Lillian Nelson; her sister, Lorraine Nelson; and her grandson, John Phillip Taylor.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 1, 2026, at the Highland Park Ward, 955 Memorial Drive, Idaho Falls. The family will visit with friends and family from 9:30-10:45 a.m., prior to the services at the church. Interment will follow at 4:00 p.m. at the Bancroft Cemetery under the direction of Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street, Idaho Falls. Online condolences may be sent to www.coltrinmortuary.com.
