Carolyn A. Taylor

Carolyn A. Taylor

Cedar Rapids

Carolyn Amelia Taylor, 86, of Solon, IA passed away June 22, 2024 at the Serenity House in Tomah, WI. A Celebration of Life is planned for July 16, 2024 at the Avacentre in Solon, IA. She is survived by daughter Kimberly Rakes and grandson Taylor Dylan Rakes, of Tomah, WI.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Larry Taylor in 2016. Also preceding her were son Barton Larry Taylor, sisters Kathleen Walsh, Mary Michaels, Marge Johnson, Alixe Carstens, Charlotte Rognehaugh, Corleen Hayden and brothers Raymond Nuzum, Richie Nuzum and parents Russell A. and Vivian Esther Rush Nuzum.

Carolyn grew up on the family farm, graduating from St. Charles High School. Carolyn and Larry were high school sweethearts, marrying August 3, 1957. She worked at Nash Finch in Cedar Rapids, and then for 17 years at Xerox. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Social Work at 55, she became a counselor and Social Worker at Tanager Place in Cedar Rapids, and with the Iowa Department of Human Services. She was loved and respected by everyone with whom she worked.

Retiring at 75, she could further enjoy all the activities she and Larry took part in, cross country skiing, water skiing with her grandson, planting flowers, bike riding and camping. Carolyn and Larry thoroughly enjoyed ballroom dancing. They were also ‘charter members’ of Project Aware, joining other volunteers each summer for five years, canoeing, clearing litter and improving water quality on Iowa streams.

Back home, Carolyn enjoyed living on Coralville Lake, where she and Larry had the best neighbors in the world! She enjoyed entertaining them at neighborhood hog roasts. She was also a member at Parkview Church in Iowa City.

She spent her final days at Serenity Hospice House in Tomah, WI, where she received exceptional care. The family would welcome any memorial donations to be directed to Serenity House, 601 Straw St., Tomah WI 54660 or to St. Jude’s Research Hospital.