Shirleen Taylor

On Sunday, May 29, 2022, in the still of the early morning our beloved mother and grandmother Shirleen Clark Taylor passed away peacefully. Shirleen was born April 27, 1931 at home in Pleasant Grove, Utah to delighted parents, Garland Heber and Novella Robbins Clark. She was the apple of her dad’s eye. Shirleen’s formative years were happy and carefree, spent with both cousins and friends, enjoying the simple pleasures of a much simpler time. She had clear blue eyes, blonde ringlets and an easy smile. She readily made friends and worked and played with gusto. Her parents were hard working, independent people, traits inherited from their pioneer ancestry and passed along to their own children. She relished her days at Central Elementary School where she loved playing baseball with the boys and ice skating on the frozen winter pond. Summers found her picking fruit for one of the many local farms. As she matured, she laid aside her baseball bat, picked up a violin and bow where she played with the Jr. High and High school orchestras, much of the time as first chair. She enjoyed an active social life with a special circle of friends, all of whom have predeceased her but one. She enjoyed keeping in touch with them, especially over the last two decades. She loved her hometown of Pleasant Grove and always carried a piece of PG in her heart. She was honored to serve as a member of the Strawberry Days Royalty. She worked at the local five and dime where she learned to carefully manage her money and resources, something she did until the very end. Throughout the years she proved to be a loyal and outstanding employee in every job she held, and was regarded by her bosses and coworkers alike for her untiring work ethic, sense of humor and friendly smile.

Not long after she graduated from PG High in 1949, she was introduced on a blind date to a young man from American Fork. This blind date turned out to be destiny and she married G. Preston Taylor in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on November 3, 1950. They set up housekeeping in American Fork where they lived the balance of their lives. They excitedly became parents to Shauna Ann, Janet Lee and Clark Preston over the subsequent years. In 1961 tragedy struck when Shauna was diagnosed with an incurable illness and passed away in October of that year. Through faith, tears and grit they moved forward and devoted their time and attention to Janet, who was joined three years later by Clark. By this time, they had built their home on 300 North and found great satisfaction taking care of their home and yard.   Active in the Church, Mom served in different capacities in all organizations. She especially enjoyed the nine years she spent serving in the Sealing Office at the Mount Timpanogos Temple.

In 1998, Dad left us far too soon and Mom set the example by soldiering on and continuing to work as a bookkeeper for a medical group at Utah Valley Medical Center for several more years. She filled her life with her family, joyfully welcoming each new grandchild and great-grandchild. She cherished time spent with the Grands and Greats, always finding joy in their individual characteristics. She continued taking care of her home and yard with the same meticulous care that she and Dad had exercised all their married life. Shirleen learned early in life the healing that comes from working the soil and enjoying the flowers and plants that grow. She was no doubt lonely, but kept working and moving forward with the fortitude that was born in her. She has been an incredible example to family, friends and acquaintances. Her passing, even at the age of 91, leaves a large void within each of us. Hers was a life well lived that will serve and inspire us through eternity.

Shirleen was preceded by her beloved husband, Preston; precious daughter, Shauna Ann; parents Gar and Novella and brother Douglas. Surviving are her children Janet (Michael) Shumway and Clark (Ann) Taylor; 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Services will be held Friday, June 3, 2022 at 11:00 AM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Chapel, 270 North 900 East in American Fork, Utah where friends may call Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM and Friday 9:30 to 10:30 AM prior to services. Services entrusted to the care of Brown Family Mortuary, Santaquin, Utah. Interment will follow in the American Fork Cemetery.

Thank you, Mom for a lifetime of love and life lessons that will guide and influence us daily. Please hug Dad and Shauna for us, we look forward to a glorious reunion in a coming day. Our lives were enriched beyond measure because of you, our blessed Mother.

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