Colleen Taylor

Colleen Taylor, age 88, died of pancreatic cancer May 26, 2018, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Born in Saltillo, Mexico to American parents and raised in Saltillo and Laredo, Texas, she graduated from Southwestern University with a BA in biology and psychology in 1950 and from the University of Arkansas with an MA in health education in 1977. She dedicated her life to educating all ages and was a pioneer in hands-on learning. Before teaching biology, health education, and driver's education at Springdale High 1975-1994, she taught in Texas, Illinois, and California. She won many awards, including Arkansas Teacher of the Year for Health Education 1987, and Teacher of the Year for Springdale School District 1990. She served as a delegate to China with the American School Health Association in 1987 and was listed in Who's Who Among America's Teachers in 1994. She was bilingual and cared deeply about helping language learners in Northwest Arkansas. She taught ESL for 12 years at the Northwest Technical Institute and at Rogers Public Schools. As one of the first bilingual realtors in Northwest Arkansas, she took clients to doctors' appointments on her own time to translate for them. Colleen volunteered at Elmdale Elementary in her daughter Chula's 1st grade and kindergarten classrooms for 10 years, and at the Walton Arts Center and Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. She was an avid exerciser, master gardener, and world traveler. She visited Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, England, and Hawaii with her daughter Teresa, and Zimbabwe, Jamaica, and China with health organizations. She relentlessly supported her family, friends, and students. Everyone who met her has a story to tell, often funny. She led a selfless life, constantly looking for ways to help others. The world will never be the same because of the difference she made. Colleen was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Joy Camp; her son, Keet Lewis Taylor; her sister, Joy Camp Wright; her brother and sister-in-law, Bobby and Beverly Camp; and her nephew, Roberto Camp. She is survived by her daughters Chula Rogers of Springdale, Arkansas and Teresa Taylor of Duvall, Washington; her grandchildren Kinsey, Christian, Daniel, and Laura Dickey; seven great- grandchildren: Adalae, Elliott, Asher, Ruby, Oliver, Rhett, and Arlis; one sister-in-law, Louise Taylor; and many loving nieces and nephews. She was a member of Fellowship Bible Church in Fayetteville. A memorial will be held Saturday, June 9, at 2 PM at Butterfield Trail Village Performance Hall in Fayetteville. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Loving Choices, Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, or Mona Foundation. To place an online tribute, visit www.nelsonberna.com.