Obituary-Karen Wamsley Taylor

Karen Wamsley Taylor passed away peacefully in the company of loved ones on January 2, 2024. She was much loved and will be deeply missed.

Karen was born October 27, 1937 to Milford Bryson and Edna Lucille Allen Wamsley in Garden City, Utah. It was there she learned the value of hard work and education as the daughter of a farmer, business owner and schoolteacher. She was very social and had a group of friends from her schoolgirl days that stayed in touch and got together right up to the last year of her life. Karen had boundless energy and wore many hats. She was a flight attendant for Western Airlines, was in the first class of graduating Registered Nurses from Weber State College, and after marrying and having children, went back to school to get a degree in Education from Drake University. It was while flying for Western Airlines out of Denver that Karen met Ross Pratt Taylor. They were married in her hometown of Garden City, Utah on December 26, 1959. Their union was later solemnized in the LDS Logan Temple. She instantly became stepmother to Mike, Mark, and Greg Taylor. Right after marrying, Karen and Ross settled in Cheyenne Wyoming, where Ross worked for International Harvester and Karen worked as a nurse. It was there that they welcomed their daughter, Leslie, to the family. A transfer took the family to Des Moines, Iowa, where she returned to school to obtain a degree in Education. Ross and Karen welcomed their son, Aaron, to the family while living in Iowa. In 1968, the family moved to Burley, Idaho where they would raise their children and make lifelong friends. Burley is where Karen spent her career as a schoolteacher. She taught 2nd and 3rd graders at Dworshak Elementary School for 18 years. While she adored her schoolkids, she also loved nursing. She continued working as an Emergency Department nurse during school breaks at Cassia County Memorial Hospital. As an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Karen served in the Young Women’s organization many times, the Relief Society and as the Compassionate Service Leader. After retiring, she and Ross moved to Salt Lake City in order to be Temple Square Missionaries. Later, they were volunteer guides at the new LDS Conference Center. Karen was privileged to serve as a Mission Nurse for the Salt Lake City Mission for nearly 10 years. Karen was tireless in her service to others. Whether that be professionally as their schoolteacher or their nurse, or as a friend or family member. She travelled far and wide to help cook for friends’ children’s weddings, paint houses, hang wallpaper, care for grandchildren and great grandchildren, and care for people during times of need. Never one to sit still, Karen had numerous hobbies. Lucky are those who have a bed or a couch adorned with one of her quilts! In addition to being a talented quilter, Karen was an accomplished singer who loved performing in various Sweet Adelines groups, despite the endless teasing she took from her children about their choreography. She sewed dresses for her granddaughters, knitted everything from blankets to dishcloths, and was an excellent cook – though yeast breads were her nemesis. Throughout her life, but especially in her later years, Karen’s great love was spending time with her family. She had a very special relationship with her great grandchildren who lovingly call her GiGi. They learned early on that there were always treats to be had at her house, but they had to be eaten “on the tile!” She loved attending soccer, lacrosse, and football games; dance and piano recitals; and theater productions. Karen is preceded in death by her loving husband Ross, who passed away three months prior to her, her parents and her brother Reed Wamsley. She is survived by her brother Alan, her stepsons Mike, Mark, and Greg, children Leslie and Aaron, nine grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. Visitation will be Friday, January 19th from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary at 1007 W South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, Utah. Interment will be in the Garden City Cemetery on at 10:30 am on Saturday, January 20th, 2024. A Celebration of Life honoring Karen will follow later in the Spring in her beloved Garden City.