Ulla Birgitta Wallin Taylor

Ulla Birgitta Wallin Taylor passed away on June 8th, 2022. She is finally at peace after a long illness.

Ulla was born in Jönköping Sweden on July 18, 1941. She traveled to Salt Lake City as a Swedish exchange student in 1958 to attend Olympus High School, where she was voted the school’s Homecoming Queen. She also met fellow student Joseph Lawrence Taylor at OHS. Joe became the love of her life and future husband. Her parents, Halvar and Birgit Wallin, and Ulla’s two beloved younger sisters, Lisbeth Downs and Christina Yates, joined her when the family moved to Salt Lake City in 1960.

Ulla spoke Swedish, English, German, along with a smattering of French, and considered a career as an interpreter; but when she became a mother, she devoted herself fully to the care of her children.

As a homemaker and gardener, Ulla was keen to keep her grounds beautiful and to create delicious dinners. She took cooking classes, found scrumptious ways to use fresh ingredients, and took immense pleasure in showing her son and his friends how to find wild mushrooms and stinging nettles for tasty dishes. She also “harvested” her yard to make mint and rosehip tea and dandelion wine. She thoroughly enjoyed puttering in the garden. She also loved her cat and dogs, calling them her “kids.”

Ulla revelled in drawing, knitting, crocheting, and sewing. She also found pleasure in playing her piano. And she and Joe loved to travel, visiting her homeland of Sweden, along with numerous other countries. She and Joe also attended dog trials throughout the western states every year for months at a time. Ulla always made a point of finding gifts for her children and grandchildren on her excursions.

Ulla was an extremely kind and generous mother and grandmother. For many years, she helped to raise several grandchildren. She had a wonderful sense of humor and greeted strangers with warmth and sweetness. She befriended people easily.

Ulla is survived by her three children: Lucinda Suzanne Taylor of Victoria, British Columbia; Christina Marie Taylor of Bend, Oregon; and James Joseph Taylor of Salt Lake City. She has eight grandchildren: Sean Paxton-Taylor, Ian Paxton-Taylor, Ryan Taylor, Evan Felt, Ethan Felt, Anika Nykanen, Collin White, and Lena Felt. Her son James provided loving care for Ulla after Joseph passed away in July, 2016. Several family members also assisted Ulla during her final years, including her devoted grandchildren Ryan Taylor, Ethan Felt, and her daughter Christina Taylor.

Ulla will be missed dearly by all who loved her. May she be reunited with her dearest husband and parents at last.

The family will hold a small private celebration of life for Ulla. In lieu of flowers, please donate to research on dementia.