Norma Brimhall Taylor

Norma Brimhall Taylor passed from this life on April 6, 2026 at Birch Creek Assisted Living Center in Smithfield, Utah at the age of 90.

She was born on May 28, 1935 in Draper, Utah to Jesse Temple Brimhall and Veda Collette who lived in a historic home filled with the noise and laughter of nine older siblings. From her pioneering parents Norma acquired an understanding of courage, curiosity, hard work, innovation and learning.

As the youngest of five boys and five girls in the Brimhall family, she grew up surrounded by the rhythms and responsibility of farm life—cows, pigs, hay and the dairy that carried her family through the Depression. The family moved several times, and her early childhood stretched across the West - Nevada’s small towns, a first grade classroom in Susanville, California, to Kaysville, Utah where her grandmother’s orchard and kneeslapping stories became treasured memories for her. In 1945 her family moved to Fruitland, and later to Farmington, New Mexico where Norma graduated from high school.

On April 4, 1956, Norma married Wilbur James Walker, beginning a new chapter of adventure and growth. Together they welcomed their son, James Richard Walker, into their family who became the focus of her world. Their life journey took them to Oklahoma for 23 years, where Norma was introduced to new cultures, family businesses, and the opportunity to utilize many of the skills she learned growing up in a large, hardworking farm family.

A pioneer among her peers, Norma returned to college at age 29, earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education, along with a minor in music. As an accomplished soprano and pianist, she played or sang for many church and cultural events. She carried her love of music into her teaching and eventually discovered her true calling in special needs education. Norma believed deeply in the transformative power of reading; a love nurtured by her parents and passed on to countless students. She had a gift for helping children with learning challenges discover their own abilities and sense of self-worth.

Even in retirement, Norma continued her mission of teaching. For more than a decade, she taught reading in her home to over 30 adolescents. Many of these students went on to earn high school diplomas and fulfill personal goals they once thought unreachable. Norma’s well-honed teaching skills and her belief in them helped make those futures possible.

Norma often reflected on a favorite quote her mother cherished, attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt: “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” This philosophy helped shape Norma’s approach to life. She engaged others with thoughtful curiosity, especially adolescents who found in her a safe, encouraging presence. Many of her son’s friends, as well as nieces, nephews, and neighbors, came to see her as a “second mom.”

Norma lived for a time in Tucson, Arizona and eventually returned to the familiar surroundings, living in Bloomfield, Shiprock and Farmington, New Mexico. Teaching Navajo children became one of the great privileges of her life. She carried with her the simple wisdom of her upbringing, memories of her mother’s bread and sweet rolls, and the wisdom she had learned as a child: “Don’t trade for any wooden nickels.” Throughout some of these years, she was alone, making the best of what she had and putting her heart and soul into her teaching.

On December 19, 1997, Norma married Bobby K. Taylor and settled near Red Mesa, Colorado in Long Hollow; later moving to Kline, Colorado where they established a new home together. They built fences and sheds, planted grass and flowers, decorated and worked to enjoy their home. They loved being with people, one of their favorite groups was an empty nester’s family home evening group where they had many marvelous gospel discussions. They traveled when they could to see family and church historic sites, Palmyra, New York being Norma’s favorite. She had visited many states in her lifetime and always said that she didn’t need to see Europe; there was still too much beauty in America.

Bob passed away on April 3, 2012 and she was alone again to find her way through life. She had dogs to keep her company and her yard to care for to help make life meaningful. She continued to work on her artistic skills as well as read and study books nearly every day to continue her thirst for knowledge and understanding about the world around her. She had two good friends at this time, they would get together and enjoy going to movies, dinner and cultural events, etc.

As Norma got into her mid 80’s she wasn’t doing very well emotionally or physically as she lived alone, so she consented to move to an assisted living facility. She wanted to be close to her sister, Glenna Pier, who was in Smithfield, Utah. Birch Creek Assisted Living Center in Smithfield became her new home as she lived next door to Glenna. These sisters were the first two to sign up and move into the brand-new facility in November 2020. Here she got consistent nutritious meals, had her medications managed and had daily social interaction that she didn’t get at home alone. At first she wasn’t very happy, but soon she realized that they took very good care of her and she had a constant “family” around her. After suffering a broken hip and subsequent surgery in March 2026, Norma’s health steadily declined until her body could no longer endure.

She was preceded in death by her father, Jesse Brimhall and her mother Veda Collette, her husband Bobby K. Taylor, her sisters, Beulah Huntsman, Ronda Jack, Glenna Pier and Dorthy Slaugh, her brothers Demar Brimhall, Ray Brimhall, Dell Brimhall, Baby Boy Brimhall, J Robert Brimhall and Gary Brimhall.

She is survived by her son J. Richard “Rick” Walker, his children Christopher, Andrea, Erik, Ryan and Kyle. Her stepsons Deems Taylor, Duane Taylor and his children, Karen, Kristi, Karla and Ricky, Norman Taylor (Debbie) and their children, Carrie, David, Daniel, Anna, Stephen, Spencer Ashley and Camille, Trent Taylor (Linda) and their children Brian, Julia and Kevin, and her stepdaughter Gevene Sherman (Nick) and their children Aubrey, Amber, Tyson and Brianna.

Services will be held on April 11, 2026, at the Redmesa, Colorado LDS Church. There will be a visitation from 9:00am – 9:40 am. The funeral service will be held at 10:00 am. Interment will take place at the Red Mesa Cemetery.

Norma's service can be viewed via Zoom at the following link: Click Here to Watch via Zoom