Karen Sue Taylor

Karen Sue Taylor, 81, of Springville, Utah, passed away Monday, May 19, 2025.

Karen Sue Henderson Taylor, was born on October 3, 1943, in Afton, Wyoming. She was the fourth child of Dewey and Emma Henderson and was raised in Rock Springs. Her vibrant spirit and infectious smile brought joy into the lives of all who knew her. She had a thirst for knowledge and loved learning new things.

This remarkable woman earned a Bachelor of Arts in Speech with a minor in music from the University of Wyoming. This is where she met the love of her life, Larry Jay Taylor. They were married on January 20, 1966, in the Logan Utah Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With her sharp mind and distinctive gift for articulation, she went on to earn a master’s degree in public speaking from Brigham Young University. She taught public address and advanced level classes in storytelling at BYU and taught communications classes for the University of Maryland.

Larry’s Air Force career took Karen around the world, where they raised their family in Okinawa, Virginia, Turkey, Germany, Arkansas, California, Colorado, and New Mexico. Traveling with a Fodor’s Guide in hand, Karen’s enthusiasm to learn about history and culture was contagious. She especially treasured the friendships she made meeting new people.

Karen was a master teacher and scriptorian. She loved music, dancing, playing and teaching piano, sewing and various crafts for her loved ones, instigated meaningful holiday traditions and family events, cooking–including delicious recipes native to the areas where she lived, winning games (always with her inherent integrity), and genealogy. But most of all, she cherished the gospel of Jesus Christ and her family.

She shared her many talents and testimony while serving diligently in many capacities for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She loved the people she served and touched many lives, including missionaries, single servicemen, children, seminary students, young women, adult women, and the patrons and fellow-workers of both the temple and family history center.

Karen passed away in Springville, Utah at the age of 81 on May 19, 2025. She will be dearly missed by her husband, Larry Taylor; their eight children: Tanita (Scott) Sessions, Marina Taylor, LaRae (Alex) Rahm, Tanya (Jason) Dunn, Lael Taylor, Trey (Yvonne) Taylor, Nathan (Elise) Taylor, and James (Britta) Taylor; 26 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; her brother Lael (Mary) Henderson, and sisters Laura Brokaw and Eileen Henderson. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dewey and Emma Henderson, and brother Dewey Russell Henderson.

An evening viewing will be held Monday, June 2, 2025 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Wheeler & Sundberg Funeral Home, 211 East 200 South, Springville, Utah 84663.

A morning viewing will be held Tuesday, June 3, 2025 from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. at the Spring Creek South Stake Center, 350 North 400 East, Springville, Utah. The Funeral Service will follow beginning at 11:00 a.m. at the same LDS Chapel.

Graveside service will be held Wednesday, June 4, 2025 beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Laketown Cemetery, 437 South 70 East, Laketown, Utah.

Condolences may be expressed to the family on this page.