Vonna Nell Taylor's Obituary
Vonna Nell Taylor, age 82, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, died on September 23, 2021, at Butterfield Trail Village. She was born on December 8, 1938, in Carnegie, a farming community in western Oklahoma near the Washita River, to Guy and Grace (Kerr) Hockman. Nell graduated from Carnegie High School in 1957. She married Larry R. Taylor in 1958.
Nell had a real love for life and was an enthusiastic participant in any adventure. Whether square dancing, cooking, knitting or quilting, she enjoyed life and especially community with gusto. She was a member of the Rural Builders at Son’s Chapel, joining a nearly 100 year-long line of women who supported the construction and continue to support the maintenance of the stone building and grounds on Mission Boulevard in Fayetteville. Nell was a member of Fayetteville Newcomers, Book Club Girl’s Night Out group, and played in several Bridge Clubs over the years.
Nell was a supportive partner to her husband, Dr. Larry Taylor, with whom she travelled the world. Larry’s work as a psychiatrist took them to Hawaii, New Mexico, California, Texas, Arizona, Saudi Arabia, Alaska and Arkansas.
Nell made many deep and lasting friendships throughout her 82 years. Our family feels comforted by the many stories her friends have shared about Nell’s life and are grateful for the role they played along with family in her happiness.
Nell was preceded in death by Larry, her parents, brothers Duane Hockman and Nedwin Hockman, and sister, Myra Dean Vitrano.
She is survived by three children, Jennifer Taylor Swain and husband David of Fayetteville; Matthew Taylor and wife Jena of North Canton, Ohio; and Julie Humphrey and husband Dan of New River, Arizona; five grandchildren, Aidan Swain and wife Viviana, Grace Taylor, Dominic Swain, Greta Taylor, and Matthew Taylor; sister-in-law Jackie Stover, brother-in-law Bill Taylor and wife Billie Sue, five nieces, Shiree Charles, Kyle Wiltse, Marzetta Gaskamp, Phyllis Boedeker, Mellissa Gaubatz and one nephew Jonathon Taylor.
A memorial will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 2, 2021, at the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks, P. O. Box 10407, Fayetteville, AR 72703 and www.bgozarks.org.
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