Janet Louise (Morley) Taylor

After a few nights of singing, laughs, and Jeopardy, Janet Louise Morley Taylor, passed away eight days after her 85th birthday on Friday, February 18, 2022, at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada, surrounded by family and loved ones. Janet Morley was born February 10,1937, in Provo, Utah; the fourth child of Alonzo John and Eloise Stewart Morley. She was later married to Melvin Taylor on May 27, 1955 in the Manti, Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

As a child, Janet was a bright-eyed and energetic little spitfire. At 12-years-old, for instance, she threatened to give Mr. Bridges the “licking of [his] life” for the 177-day Hawaiian boat strike that forced Janet and family to leave their car and baggage in Hawaii and take a 14-hour flight home to Los Angeles. It would seem Janet had to leave her heart there, too, because she loved it there and returned often throughout her life. As she matured, Janet became more tame, but those who knew her knew she never lost her spitfire spirit.

In her young adult life and throughout high school, she was mildly rebellious, highly social and very involved in clubs, plays, tumbling, and of course, dance. Janet’s eternal dance partner, Melvin Taylor, asked Jan to marry him during her senior year at Provo High School. They moved around the western states looking for work, having kids as they went, before landing in Las Vegas for Mell's job at the Nevada test site.

Eight “great” kids later, Janet was a full time (AND over-time) mom. With 4 boys and 4 girls they officially had “4 of each” and if you've met any of those eight “great” kids you know what a miracle she performed. Losing her 4th child, Kenny John, to cancer in November of 1979, was possibly the hardest challenge she endured on this earth. It solidified her conviction, however, to love and serve her children, their families, and really anyone who would let her, even some who wouldn’t.

With everything she went through, Janet continually refined her gift for loving others. Unknown to many, she spent her life taking in the weary traveler, loving them as her own. In her quiet way, Janet’s gift of real, unconditional, Christ-like love has changed the way WE love and will thereby continue to change hearts forever.

Janet loved her family—her husband Melvin; her four sons and four daughters: Kim; Kari (Boyd Tracy) Eliason; Keli (Jaymes) Leu; Kenny John; Kurt (Christine); Koni (Brian) Whitaker; all of Las Vegas, NV; Kristi (Troy) Pace of Lake Havasu City, AZ; Kasey (Stephanie) of Las Vegas, NV. She adores her 24 grandchildren and her 27 (almost 28) great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Gerald (Judy) Morley of Minnesota.

She is proceeded in death by her husband, Melvin Taylor; her son, Kenny John Taylor; her son-in-law Jaymes Leu, her granddaughter, Kayli Eliason, her brother Stewart Morley, and her two sisters Marilyn Washburn and Diane Hellstrom.

A viewing will be held for Janet from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Friday, February 25, 2022 and the following day Saturday, February 26, 2022, from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM, at the Alta and Jones building of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 6100 Alta Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89107.

The funeral services in honor of Janet will be held at the same building after the viewing on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at 1:00 PM.

Interment will be Monday, March 21st, 2022 at 1:00 PM at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery at 1900 Veterans Memorial Dr. Boulder City, NV 89005.

In lieu of flowers, Janet has requested donations be made to Alonzo J. & Eloise S. Morley Endowed Scholarship in Speech Pathology, which resides in the School of Education at BYU. To donate visit https://donate.churchofjesuschrist.org/donations/byu?funds=30187118&