Marva Taylor

Marva Jean Simonsen Taylor passed away January 18, 2021 in Monroe at almost 94 years old. Marva was born March 2, 1927 in Monroe. She was the seventh of eight children born to Thomas Christian and Edith Deseret Meldrum Simonsen. She grew up in Monroe tending to chickens, pigs, and minks on the family farm and helping care for her older sister, Dorothy's, young children. At a young age, she started working for pay plucking rocks from potato fields around town, and helping her older brother, Carlyle, on many of his adventures - like traveling to Mexico to buy oranges and bringing them home to sell in Monroe. During World War II, she worked at the old sugar beet factory where she peeled, sliced, and freeze-dried potatoes to be shipped off to our troops overseas. After graduating from South Sevier High School in 1945, Marva moved to Salt Lake where she worked in a sewing factory. Through her brother, Carlyle, she met a sailor, Keith Taylor, who was stationed in Bremerton, Washington. The two briefly corresponded by mail and were married on February 18, 1946 at the City County Building in Salt Lake while Keith was visiting on leave. Their cab driver served as witness to their marriage. Marva moved to Bremerton with her new husband. When Keith finished his time in the Navy, the couple returned to Monroe where they had four children: Lurana, Doug, Leanne, and Mary Jane. The young family moved between Monroe, Garrison, and Burbank in Central Utah. Keith worked in ranching, shepherding, and horseshoeing, while Marva raised the kids and tended to their home and animals. In 1959, the family moved to California. They had homes in La Puente and Covina, where they welcomed their fifth and final child, Willie. Keith and Marva returned to Utah and the mountains they loved in 1969. They had homes in West Valley City and Magna. While in Magna, they started a successful fencing business together. Marva’s contributions were vital to the company. She did the bookwork and ran endless errands, all while still being a mother and grandmother. In the early 1980s, Keith moved the fencing business to Monroe. Marva remained up north to sell their home and landed a job at Rockwell Industries soldering electrical components. She really enjoyed that job. In 1982, Marva finally returned home to Monroe, where she and Keith would spend the rest of their years. Keith preceded Marva in death February 5, 1991. Marva was a woman of family and faith, which she kept close to her heart. Each night, she named every member of her posterity -all four generations- in her prayers. Her grandkids loved spending time with her in Monroe: fishing, sleeping out in tents, and collecting brass shells. She was active in her community through American Legion Auxiliary and Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. She valued genealogy and family history; enjoyed quilting, crocheting, and reading; was an avid gardener and canner; and delighted in yard sales, thrift stores, clipping coupons, and collecting coins and stamps. She enjoyed hosting friends and playing games; Yahtzee and Phase 10 were favorites. In later years, Marva enjoyed lunch and bingo at the Senior Center in Monroe, listening to audiobooks, and daily visits with her older brother, Burt, until his passing. In her final year, she made new friends at St Joseph's Villa in Salt Lake, the Beehive Home in Richfield, and Monroe Canyon Assisted Living in Monroe. She had a fantastic memory and loved sharing stories about her life and her family. She looked forward to visiting with friends at mealtime and playing bingo - she always won at bingo! Marva is survived by her children: Lori Bray, Magna; Doug Taylor, Priest River, ID; Leanne (Orville) Leddy, Monroe; Janie (Keith) Rogers, West Valley City; Willie (Cindy) Taylor, Mariposa, CA; 13 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; and several dear nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by all of her siblings: Dorothy Nielsen, Carlyle Simonsen, Burt Simonsen, and four who died in infancy/childhood: Grant, Stanford, Maurine, and Roger. Marva will be laid to rest in the Monroe City Cemetery next to her husband, her parents, her grandparents, and five of her siblings. Graveside service will be held on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 1:00 P.M. in the Monroe City Cemetery. Because of COVID-19 mandates, all attendees must wear a mask and adhere to social distancing guidelines. Services under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.