Sandra Lea (Sorenson) Taylor

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Sandra was born May 31, 1944 in Payson, Utah to Lois Jackson Sorenson and Rancel Vern Sorenson. She was the oldest of two daughters. She spent her early years in American Fork. Those earliest years were challenging, as her father faced what is now known as PTSD from serving as a gunner in World War II. Her parents divorced in 1950. She then moved to West Mountain and attended school in Payson, graduating from Payson High School in 1962. The years in West Mountain developed close family ties with grandparents, her mother and sister, and her aunts and cousins.

After high school she attended cosmetology school, and worked as a beautician in Payson until 1966. She then moved to Seattle, where she met her sweetheart, Lowell Taylor. They were married and sealed in the Manti Temple December 21,1966. They remained in Seattle for nine months, and then moved to Denver.

During their eleven years in Denver, they had six children. She made many life-long friends in the Denver area. In late 1972 Lowell’s job required him to spend a month at Kennedy Space Center. Sandy stayed in Denver with four children under five years old, housebound by 16 inches of snow. She managed to sing songs and teach nursery rhymes while meeting basic needs of a large, young family. After Christmas, the family joined Lowell in Florida for six months where Sandy made trips to the beach and other places while Lowell worked many long hours preparing for the Skylab launch.

Sandy and Lowell moved their family to Riverton, Utah in 1978. Sandy also worked several jobs during this time, including working for the Bureau of Criminal Identification and as a Port of Entry agent for UDOT, routing oversize loads to avoid bridges and other obstacles on Utah roads. Sandy retired in 2006 to thoroughly enjoy her years as a grandma. She doted on her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

“You are my sunshine”

Sandy was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, serving in Primary and Sunday School. Sandy was creative, and a skilled craftsperson with many mediums including crochet, sewing, cross stitch, paper crafts, cooking, and many other areas. Her posterity has benefited greatly from her skills, including creation of a wedding dress, 5 sewn blessing dresses, 4 crocheted blessing dresses, and numerous afghans, crocheted, cross stitched and embroidered pieces. She loved swapping and creating recipes with extended family. Her chili is legendary, and her children and grandchildren have created their own versions of this classic. One of the things we remember best about Sandy was her welcoming nature. Her open heart and home gathered many “adopted” children and grandchildren throughout the years. Her door was always open to anyone. She loved family gatherings filled with good food she prepared and lots of noisy games and visiting. She enjoyed shopping, especially for new grandbabies and great grandbabies. One of her favorite ways to show love was with a little gift that showed those she loved that she was thinking of them. And she was always thinking of someone!

Sandy was married for 55 years to her sweetheart, Lowell. She was also deeply loved by six children: Chad (Stephanie) Taylor, Deborah (Brian) Ivie, Brian (Susie) Taylor, Becky (Brian) Collins, Pamela (Denny) Van Wagoner, and David Taylor. She doted on 29 grandkids and 5 great grandkids. She will also be missed by many cousins, in-laws and extended family members.

Sandy died April 6, 2022 surrounded by loved ones at her home in Riverton, Utah. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rancel Sorenson and Lois Nelson, step father Justin Nelson and sister Judy Sorenson, and many beloved aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins.

We are especially thankful for the great care she received from the dialysis nurses and technicians at the Riverton Fresenius facility over the last five years as she battled end stage kidney failure. We are also grateful for IHC Hospice care staff, who made her comfortable and allowed her to spend her last days at home with her family.

Although we miss her greatly, we know she is happy and out of pain, enjoying a happy reunion, a game of cards and lots of great food with her wonderful family who passed before her.

Viewing to be held on Sunday, April 10th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Broomhead Funeral Home, 12600 S. 2200 W. Riverton, Utah.

Funeral Services will be held on April 11, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Riverton 7th Ward Building, 12459 South Dansie Way Riverton, Utah, with a viewing from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.

Funeral services will be streamed at: https://zoom.us/j/97757459239

Internment: Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. Fremont Cemetery, Fremont, Utah.