(December 10, 1947–September 3, 2014)
Cheryl was born in the home of her Grandma Coon on December 10, 1947, in Colonia Dublan, Chihuahua, Mexico. Her parents were Blanche Lenore (Coon) Taylor and John Bennion Taylor.
She had an older sister, Kathryn; an older brother, John; and two younger brothers, Arnold, and Lance. They lived in Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and a whole community of friends who felt like family.
Growing up in the colonies was fun for Cheryl. She played at the river catching pollywogs; loved to swim in the cement swimming pool; played in the tree house her dad built; enjoyed the big swing in the tree; loved riding her dad’s big brown horse, Chato; liked riding her bike in spite of skinned knees; watched baseball games; dressed up as a pioneer for 24th of July parades; and went to the lakes outside of Dublan (which her Grandpa Robinson engineered) where she enjoyed eating fried hamburgers on homemade buns with home grown tomatoes.
When she was five years old, she fell from a small garden tractor as it swung into the driveway. It was hoped that she wasn’t run over, but the tire marks on her neck proved otherwise. At that young age, she showed great faith; a divine attribute that would serve as a foundation for her in the years ahead. She asked those who were present to pray for her. Love for Cheryl in this community took it a step further and the whole town fasted and prayed for her. She was taken to El Paso where the doctor told them the pressure on her chest from the force and weight of the tractor had caused a hemorrhage, damaging the octave and motor nerves (among other things) in her eyes. Her life was spared, but she suffered the results of the trauma which included limited vision throughout her life.
In the summer of 1958, Cheryl’s family moved to California. She finished grade school in Manzanita and Tamarask Schools; and attended high school in Taft. Summers were sometimes spent traveling in Mexico visiting places like: San Blas, Tehuantepec, Vera Cruz, the Central Plateau of Mexico where the Olmec Indian ruins are, and Mexico City. Other times summer was spent in Colonia Dublan living with her Grandma Robinson.
She graduated from Taft College and then transferred to BYU. She taught English and History in Calexico, California, and then worked and lived in various other places including San Jose, California and Salt Lake City, Utah, with cousins.
Cheryl had an excellent memory; recalling details from experiences long forgotten by others. She was always interested in you and your family. She played the guitar and would play and sing at family reunions. She liked a good joke; loved to laugh; and was fun to be around. The cousins all loved her. Family was important to her.
Cheryl assumed primary care for her mother during a long and painfully difficult illness which eventually took her life. Cheryl was completely devoted and her mother could not have received better care.
Cheryl has since lived in Salinas and Monterrey, California. Over the years, all of her family moved from California and she longed to be around her family again. She recently moved to St. George, Utah, where she satisfied her desire to be near family and to spend time with her brothers Arnold and Lance. Her love for them was deep.
On September 3, 2014, Cheryl passed through the veil into the arms of her Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ; and was welcomed by family members who preceded her in death.
The family she left behind would like to thank her friends in California for being there for her. Cheryl belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and her ward family put their arms around her. They helped her through difficult times; supported her in her desire to go the Temple; were faithful home and visiting teachers; and loved her.
The family also thanks her doctor and the staff at Red Cliffs Rehab who were kind and helpful to Cheryl.