Stephen Pike Taylor

Stephen Pike Taylor passed away January 17, 2024 after suffering a heart attack while at work. He was 54 years old.
Stephen was born January 12, 1970 to David and Francine Taylor in Ridgecrest, California. He is the 2nd of 8 children. He lived in California until he was 8 years old, when the family moved to Sandy, Utah. Growing up, Stephen always had tons of friends and loved being involved in soccer, baseball but especially basketball, where he excelled, and one very important run where he won the Southern California race for his age group.
Stephen graduated from Brighton High School in 1988. In February of 1989, he served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission, which he always said was the most "Celestial" mission in the world. His love for the Polynesian people and the food would be a main-stay for the rest of his life.
After returning from Hawaii, he attended Salt Lake Community College and worked. It was at work that he met the love of his life, Betsy. They met on April 20, 1992 and were married in the Jordan River Temple on August 11, 1992. Steve and Betsy didn't waste any time growing their family and one year later had their first child, Sage, and then Sarah came along 22 months after that.
In 1996, while watching the Super Bowl, Stephen discovered a lump in his neck and called the doctor the next day to get it checked out. After testing, he was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease and started radiation treatment. Even though they were told they wouldn't be able have any more children due to the cancer treatments, they were blessed with their "bonus children" Lukas and Isaac. When people would tell him how great his kids were, he just reply "they came that way, and we didn't screw them up too much". His love for his family was evident in everything he did.
Stephen loved being a husband and dad. His family was everything to him and he spent an incredible amount of time with them. They are his closest friends. They love to be together and just talk. The variety of their subjects ranged from Angel's Baseball, NFL Red Zone, "What they called him in 'Nam'" and* getting more names for the Band Names List (there are currently over 500 at last count). Laughter was always a part of the dining experience at the Taylor household, usually the best part of the meal.
To say that Stephen loved his grandbabies, Russy Boy, Mil Mil, and Pete, would be an understatement. He loved being their "COACH" and they loved him. When they were babies he always wanted to hold one of them and he said he was Coach so he got first dibs. As they grew older he loved seeing them and hearing all the stuff they had to tell him. He was the first person they would run to every time they came to the house. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for them, and they knew it. Except change a stinky diaper. That wouldn't happen even for his beloved Mil Mil.
Stephen worked in food service for most of his professional life, first as the General Manager at Hires Big H, where he met some of his very best friends. After leaving Hires he oversaw the food service at LDS Business College and Ensign College. His favorite part of that job was working with the students and getting to be in their lives. More than once, a student would come back just to talk to Steve and get his advice or a blessing. He always had time to listen and made everyone feel important. When the food service was dissolved at the College, a new position was created just for him. He was the first Director of Logistical Support.
"What that means to me is I just show up every morning and see what needs to be done and I have fun doing it. I love my job and I love being at Ensign College."
He often said how lucky and blessed he was to be able to work where he did and with the great people that were there.
Stephen is survived by his wife, Betsy (the only without a nickname), his children: Sage (Abe Bagoda/Bushy) & Katie, Sarah (Jordan Hoopy Lumpy), Lukas (Leroy/Lu) & Mitzi (Mittens), and Isaac (Aikah Bones/Tubesy). His grandchildren: Russell (Russy Boy), Amelia (Mil Mil/Milburn/Punkin), and Peter (Pete/Peteyweety.) His parents Dave & Franny. His siblings Michael (MikeDave), Ryan "Aldean", Spencer (SpenceEd), Brent (BrentFred), Paul (PaulBob), Rebecca (Rebarbara), and Kristen (Kritter). His mother-in-law Beverly and all of his brothers and sisters-in-law. And even though he only had one aunt and zero cousins, he was an uncle to almost 50 nieces and nephews to make up for it.
He is preceded on his journey by his beloved grandparents Fred & Venna Pike and Bob & Vera Taylor, his aunt Carol and his father-in-law David.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00am on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2024 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Crescent 6th Ward, 11626 South 300 East in Draper. Viewings will be on Monday evening, January 22nd from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, and Tuesday morning January 23rd, from 9:30am to 10:30am prior to the services. All events will be held at the church.
If you would like to watch the recorded services, please click on the blue "Watch Services" button above.