Taylor, Melissa J. 1971-2024 Shaumburg, Ill.
By NewsPress Now
SHAUMBURG, Ill. – With deep sorrow we announce the unexpected death of our precious daughter, Melissa Jeannine Taylor, on Jan. 26, 2024, due to cardiac arrest at age 52.
Melissa was born in St. Louis County, Missouri, Sept. 6, 1971. She graduated from Horton Watkins, Ladue, Missouri, High School where she was an exceptional student. She earned a National Merit Scholarship, attended Pomona College (California), and graduated with a BFA degree from Washington, University (Missouri). She continued her education with a Master’s Degree in School Psychology and worked for a Phoenix, Arizona school district as a Certified School Psychologist. At the time of her death, she resided in Schaumburg, Illinois.
She was the beloved daughter of Richard R. and Shirley (Stuber) Taylor; dear sister of Richard R. (Miho Nonaka) Taylor; and cherished aunt to Shuntaro Nonaka. She was previously married to Carl Wasmuth III and step-mother to Tyler Wasmuth. Left to also grieve her passing are 25 aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Melissa loved traveling and made several trips to Europe, with Italy being her favorite destination. She studied Italian at Scuola Leonardo da Vinci in Rome, and spent a semester studying Fine Art at Cambridge University in London. She enjoyed visiting her Swiss cousins in Herzogenbuchsee, Switzerland, where she could use her German language skills. She was a talented photographer and sculptor.
Services celebrating her life will be at Hope United Church of Christ, Cosby, Missouri, where five generations of her mother’s forefathers have been members. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 9, 2024, followed by a committal service at Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will then host a visitation and luncheon at Albrecht Kemper Art Museum from 1 to 4 p.m. for family and friends.
Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.
Melissa cared deeply for her friends and family. She will never be forgotten. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
