It is with sorrow and gratitude that we mark the passing of Nancy Richardson Taylor of Scottsdale, AZ — sorrow at the loss, gratitude for the life.
What we offer here is gratitude wrapped in remembrance.
Nancy spent her working life as ['art history teacher at Averett College in Danville'] and held deeply to the Baptist faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew her best.
The traditions Nancy loved will continue to hold those she loved.
Nancy Anita Richardson Taylor, of Scottsdale, Arizona, passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of Monday, April 27th, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease.
Born at home in the small, rural town of Burlison, Tennessee, on August 23rd, 1945, she was the fourth of six children. She is preceded in death by her parents, Warner Leon and Gladys Lavelle Richardson; her brother, Warner Glen Richardson; and her twin sisters, Barbara Sadja and Betty Cowsert. She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Charles "Curry" Taylor; daughter Allison Reid and son-in-law Edwin Nungesser; her sisters, Ruthane Harber and Marsha Ballinger; and a host of cherished nieces, nephews, family, and treasured friends.
Nancy spent her childhood in Burlison, attending grades one through eight in a three-room schoolhouse, and began working at a very young age, picking cotton in fields close to her family home. She graduated from Byars-Hall High School in 1963, earning an academic scholarship to Union University, where she graduated with honors and was named a Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges in 1967. During the 1968 summer break, she and her roommate, Judy Randles Kuehner, backpacked extensively around Europe and remained lifelong friends. Returning to school, Nancy earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) in 1969.
Nancy was an extremely talented artist and accomplished professional, starting her career as an art history teacher at Averett College in Danville, Virginia. Her skills then took her back to Tennessee as a sketch artist at the Memphis Police Department and later as an editorial artist at the Commercial Appeal Newspaper. Further proving her talent, she was brought on as a featured artist at the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, Colorado.
It was there, while skiing in the Rocky Mountains outside of Denver, that she met her devoted husband, Curry. Married in 1984, they spent the next 41 years building an incredible life together. Another serendipitous chain of events led to the couple's adoption of Allison, completing the family as their only child in 1989.
Following Curry's career move to Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1993, Nancy retired and became a homemaker, devoting herself to raising their daughter and becoming highly involved and prolific in their community. She volunteered, served on numerous committees, was an avid tennis player, taught Sunday school, beat multiple forms of cancer, continued to paint and evolve as an artist, and doted on her dogs.
Nancy made a lasting impression on everyone she met with her electric blue eyes, brilliance, witty banter, and Southern charm, all while carrying herself with grace and humility. Of all her accomplishments, she will be remembered by her husband and daughter for her selfless dedication to her family and her humble and gracious perseverance over everything life threw her way. A beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend, she will be missed more than words can ever say.
Nancy Anita Richardson Taylor leaves a legacy of love, kindness, and an enduring passion for life. She will be profoundly missed, but her spirit will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Nancy's memory to Smyrna Baptist Church in Burlison, TN, or Desert Hills Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, AZ.
The Taylor family will be holding a celebration of her life at Desert Foothills Presbyterian Church, with details to be made available at a later date.
