Shirley Kay Taylor

Shirley K. Taylor 88, beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, left us on May 26, 2025, while in St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado. Shirley was born in Thomas County, Kansas on April 30, 1937. She attended Kansas State University where she met and married Dale Taylor in 1958. As Dale pursued his PhD they lived in various university towns, and they spent summers in Yellowstone and Teton National Parks. They lived in Sterling, Kansas for seven years then moved to Florida in 1977 where Dale worked in Everglades National Park and Shirley worked in banking. They lived in Alaska from 1981 until 2001. During that time Shirley worked as an Admissions Counselor at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. In 2001 they retired and moved to Grand Junction to live in their dream home which Shirley designed. She and Dale traveled to many places around the world including Russia, Kenya, China, the Philippines, Europe, and the Galapagos Islands.

Shirley is survived by her sons: Thane Taylor, Todd Taylor, and Kevin Taylor; nine grandchildren: Brandon Taylor, Ivan Taylor, Brooke Cameron, Brian Taylor, Erik Taylor, Daniel Taylor, Andrew Taylor, Michael Taylor, and Brand Taylor and five great grandchildren: Aaliyah Cameron, Anna Taylor, Damian Taylor, Dominic Cameron, and Falon Taylor and siblings: Norma Higerd and William Rikoff.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Dale Taylor, and her parents Fred and LeVerne Rikoff.

A service will be at the Baptist Church in Colby at 10:30 am with a luncheon following with interment in Hoxie, Kansas at 3:00 pm on July 19, 2025.

To honor Shirley, the family invites donations to the American Cancer Society in her memory, ensuring that her legacy of care and compassion continues to make a difference.