Our loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend passed away on May 12, 2026, in Orem, Utah.
Velma was born on July 6, 1937, to Glen Adrian Whetten and Ada Mae Judd, while her family lived in Colonia Chuichupa, high in the Sierra Madre mountains of Chihuahua, Mexico. She was the second child and oldest daughter of ten children. She dearly loved her brothers and sisters and mothered them until she passed. When she was 8 years old, her family moved to Colonia Juarez, where she would meet her eternal companion, Mennell Harvey Taylor. She graduated from Juarez Stake Academy in 1955 and moved to Provo, Utah, that fall to study archaeology at Brigham Young University.
Velma and Harvey were married on July 16, 1957, in the Mesa Arizona LDS Temple. Together they were blessed with five children: Harvey, Paul, Nina, Jeff, and Sean. They raised their family between Mexico, Utah, and Illinois. They lived in Edwardsville, IL, for 37 years, where Harvey taught at Southern Illinois University.
Velma was a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This kept her very busy in Illinois. For many years, she held church in her home for the members who lived in the area. She served as the pianist; Relief Society President; taught Primary, Sunday School, and seminary; and served in the stake Young Women’s presidency. She was actively involved in Nauvoo restoration and went there often with her children, seminary students, and visiting family and friends. She would later serve two missions there during the Nauvoo Pageant with Harvey’s and Sean’s families.
In 2004, Harvey and Velma moved to Pleasant Grove, Utah, and lived with her oldest son, Harvey, and his family. Velma was widowed in 2006, and a couple years later was able to serve a Church and Family History mission in Salt Lake City with her sister, Amanda Burraston. They were fondly referred to as the “Sister Sisters.”
Velma was a mother to everyone she met. At dinnertime, her kitchen was always full. Her homemade bread was appreciated by all her neighbors. Throughout her life, many often found a home with her: brothers, sisters, students, and her children’s friends. Her favorite job was helping to raise many of her grandchildren, who all adored her.
She spent her last hours surrounded by children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews—the people she helped raise—laughing, talking, and loving her. Her life was lived in Christlike love and service for the people around her. She left nothing unspoken and nothing undone.
Velma is survived by her children: M. Harvey and Janet Taylor, Pleasant Grove, UT; R. Paul and Colleen Taylor, Beaver Dam, AZ; Nina and Mark Adkins, Orem, UT; Jeffery H. and Leslie Taylor, Thornton, CO; A. Sean and Shannon Taylor, Ames, IA; 15 beloved grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Siblings: Amy Smith Whetten; Robert and Raquel Whetten; Rosalyn Hatch Whetten; Edward and Gayle Whetten; Earline and Tim Fewkes; Don and Rose Whetten; Dennis Wagner; Shannon Thomas Taylor; Mary and Rick Wagner; and Agustin and Janet Taylor.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey, and grandson, Michael Dixon Taylor; her parents; her in-laws, Floriene Farnsworth and Mennell Hyrum Taylor; siblings: John and Louise Whetten; Amanda and Neil Burraston; Glen Whetten; Bert Whetten; Clifford Whetten; Shirley Taylor; Carol Wagner; Stephen Taylor; and Philip Taylor.
An Evening Viewing will be held on Sunday, May 31, 2026 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Utah Valley Mortuary located at 1966 W. 700 N., Lindon, Utah. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, June 1, 2026 at 11:00 am at the Pleasant Grove 7th Ward chapel located at 275 E. 500 S., Pleasant Grove, Utah, where a Viewing will be held prior to the service from 9:00 to 10:30 am. Interment will take place at the Goshen Cemetery at 3:00 pm.