Barbara Jean (Nelson) Taylor of Monument, Colorado, passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 11th, 2026 at the age of 80. She is survived by her children, Bret (Kelley) Taylor of Denver, Colorado; Geoff (Lynaia) Taylor of Denver, Colorado; Lisa Taylor of Monument, Colorado; her three grandchildren, Luke Taylor; Nina Taylor; Ruby Taylor; and her siblings, Peggy (Steve) Sholy of Priumph, Nevada; Connie Nelson of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Brad (Yuli) Nelson of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Barb was born on January 17th, 1946 in Osnabrock, North Dakota. Barbara was known as a musically talented and gifted person in every way possible. Growing up, she played the piano and sang with her family. Everyone around her saw this talent at a young age. She lived across the street from John Taylor for most of their lives, and started dating in 1958. After dating for 7 years, they got married at the Dovre Lutheran Church in Osnabrock on June 30th, 1965.

She first worked as the accompanist and music teacher for the Osnabrock School and Dovre Lutheran Church. Then, Barb and John worked at the Nekoma Base in Langdon, ND- with her working as the head of Human Resources, and getting the chance to travel to Greenland and many more places, and then relocated to Colorado Springs to work at ITT, and later Pepsi as the head of HR as well. She worked along side her husband John most of her career. During this time at ITT and Pepsi, she got her Bachelors in Human Resources and Business Administration, and her Masters in Communications. She gave masterclasses and seminars on many topics- how to manage and change your life, advice on success in the workplace with others, and even family relationships and how to navigate them. 

Everyone around her knew her exceptional talent as a piano player, who has won many competitions throughout her career, and a wonderful vocalist. After her time in the Business industry, she went back to doing her passion full time in 1993, when she moved to Monument, Colorado. She was also known by many as one of the most successful music teachers in Colorado, winning Teacher Of The Year for CSTMA in 2011. Over the years, she has taught more than 100 students privately and has had students go on to sing in operas internationally, broadway shows, and have extensive education in music. She has also performed piano in Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and many more.

Barbara was known as a loving, nurturing, and a kind wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. An independent and headstrong woman who has worked her whole life, to better her family’s life. Those who knew her knew all about her kids and their antics, her wonderful grandkids, and her music. She always made an effort to be there for every person she loved, and she took time to care deeply about everyone. She has made many scrapbooks of her family, dating back 4 generations. Stories about her parents, grandparents, siblings, and classmates was a joy for her to tell. She was “always right,” according to her family- giving advice to her coworkers, family, friends, students that always was logical and supportive.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, John Taylor; her parents, Harley and Nona Nelson; Her grandparents, Henry and Bertina Nelson, Kris and Aldis Kristjanson, and her many aunts and uncles before her.

A ceremony will be held at The Church At Woodmoor at a later date, flowers and donations may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.