NELWYN TAYLOR RYDER
Mrs. Nelwyn Taylor Ryder was born to Vermel Wilson Taylor and H.A. “Bus” Taylor on February 28th , 1927 in Grove Hill, Louisiana and entered into eternal rest, at 94 years old, on January 4th, 2022 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
In 1948, Nelwyn received her nursing diploma from the Shreveport Charity Hospital. She continued her education over many years, later receiving a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern State University in 1957 and a Louisiana Vocational Teaching Certification in 1980. An ambitious woman, Nelwyn held many jobs throughout her career. As she had always said, “you can do anything you want to do with education and determination.” Nelwyn spent time as a registered nurse at the V.A. Medical Center in Pineville, Louisiana, a High School Nursing Vocational Trainer, and a Director of Nursing at the Louisiana Special Education Center. Nelwyn worked with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and coauthored the Louisiana Curriculum for Health Occupations Textbook. She also spent 30 years working for the Federal Government and 20 years working for the State of Louisiana. In 1998, Nelwyn retired to pursue her #1 pleasure in life, spending time with her beloved grandchildren. The family was very important to her, and she found great joy in organizing and attending Taylor family gatherings as often as possible. Nelwyn had an eclectic range of hobbies and interests. She had a passion for writing short stories with various themes, including growing up during the Depression, her hospital antics, and fun childhood exploits. She particularly enjoyed being outdoors gardening vegetables, Camellias, and other flowers. She was especially fond of Lilies, Jacob’s Ladders, and Spider Lilies. Much to her children’s chagrin, she insisted on completing even the most daunting yard work, like bush-hogging her property, well into her 80’s. A devoted follower of Christ, Nelwyn was always active in her churches, whether she was teaching, encouraging, co-founding, or simply attending. Mrs. Nelwyn Taylor Ryder was the epitome of grace, kindness, and style and showed nothing but love to anyone who crossed her path.
Nelwyn was preceded in death by her parents, and her sister, Laurnette Gregory. Left to cherish her memory is her sister, Susie Ezernack; her sons, Randy Ryder and wife, Theresa, and Robin Ryder and wife, Lisa; grandchildren, Krystyn Ryder, Taylor Ryder, Reid Ryder, and Madison Raynes; stepgrandchildren, Lane Youngblood, and Gracie Youngblood; great-grandchild, Reid Youngblood, and a host of friends and other relatives.
Honoring Nelwyn as pallbearers were Randy Ryder, Robin Ryder, Taylor Ryder, James Madden, Brandon Faulk, and Huel Jones. Serving as honorary pallbearers were Reid Ryder and Kerwin Craig.
