Nyla M. Taylor Crockett

Nyla M. Taylor Crockett

August 4, 1955 – February 13, 2024

After a decades long battle with diabetes, and related health issues, Nyla M. Taylor Crockett passed peacefully on February 13, 2024 and has transitioned home to her Heavenly Father.

The name Nyla has its roots in Arabic, Swahili and Sanskrit and essentially means “one who achieves.”

Nyla was an administrative assistant at Mesa Community College until her medical retirement in 2017. First hired as part-time cashier in 2002, her talents were quickly recognized, and responsibilities elevated landing a position with the Dean of Instruction in 2004. In 2011, Nyla and two others were recognized by the college for their life saving efforts administering CPR and summoning an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) when a colleague collapsed. She was also recognized several times for her ongoing financial support of the Maricopa County Community College District Foundation, a scholarship program.

While raising a family and working full time, she attended the University of Phoenix for six years earning her bachelor's degree in 2007. In addition to serving on various MCC committees, Nyla was a member of On Tap, a tap-dancing troupe at the college, and performed in several productions. It was a continuation of life-long passion. In her youth, she was a member of the Sadie Bruce Tap Dance Ensemble, performing at various locations throughout her Chicago hometown. She danced and appeared on one of the first Soul Train television shows that was televised in the city. 

Nyla and David met while she was visiting cousins in David's hometown. David was smitten immediately, and they were married on August 18, 1979 in Chicago, Illinois. They moved to Springfield, Illinois, where Nyla joined the United States Air Force National Guard. The family moved to California in 1981and then relocated to Gilbert in 1994. In Gilbert, the family are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Nyla was born August 4, 1955 to Delores Garrison and Willard F. Taylor Sr. in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Soon after the family moved to Chicago and continued to expand with Nyla being the oldest of seven children. Her siblings recall Nyla being an adventurous and creative teenager. She exposed her siblings to the world outside their own taking them on the El train and the city bus to explore different neighborhoods, museums, and cultural sites. She was a lover of all genres of music, particularly Motown and dabbled in the arts, creating a magnificent bird out of toothpicks. Nyla graduated from South Shore High School in 1973.

In addition to her husband and mother, Nyla is survived by her sons, Charles, Christopher, and Timothy (Yovana); 10 grandchildren: Charles Jr, Alisha, Ariana, Trevione, Naomi, Nyla, Elena, Moses, Ruth and Isabella; siblings: Elizabeth (Henry), Willard Jr., Robert (Kristi), Carolyn, Cynthia and Jacqueline.

She is also survived by a large extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews, as well as her mother-in-law, Lou' Crockett and David's four sisters. Nyla was preceded in death by her daughter Kelsey, and father Willard F. Taylor Sr.

A Funeral Service will be held on February 24, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1451 W. Guadalupe Road, Gilbert, AZ 85233.

For those who wish to view by Zoom, the link is here: 

https://zoom.us/j/92699180737

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.