Obituary: Tamaris Miriam Taylor Jensen (1939-2026)
Tamaris Miriam Taylor Jensen, born on April 25, 1939, passed away on August 13, 2026, according to obituary notices. Throughout a life that spanned communities from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, Utah, she maintained an enduring appreciation for beauty and gratitude despite the progressive challenges of Alzheimer’s disease.
Early Life and Family Background
Born to parents Miriam Ailse Mumma and H. Merrill Taylor, Tamaris grew up alongside her sister, the late Merril Lynn Taylor, and her surviving siblings Tom Taylor (joined by wife Bev) and Rebecca Rhien (joined by husband Rob). Her geographic footprint over the decades connected the American Southwest with academic and civic centers in the Midwest and the East Coast. She lived in Ann Arbor and Washington, D.C., before settling in Salt Lake City, a location positioned part way between her family in Farmington, New Mexico, and her late husband Floyd Andrew Jensen’s family.
According to family notices, her life was deeply intertwined with an extensive network of relatives. She was predeceased by her husband, Floyd Andrew Jensen, as well as her parents and sister. Survivors include her siblings-in-law Don Jensen (and wife Kathy) and Karen Jensen. Her extended family also includes nephews Eric Jensen, Gregory Jensen (and wife Ann), Jonathan Jensen, and Matthew Jensen, alongside niece Christina Jensen Augustine (and husband Sam). Her legacy is further carried forward by her grandchildren: Savannah S. Jensen, Grady T. Jensen, Hawa R. Jensen Augustine, Ana X. Jensen Augustine, and Emma M. Jensen.
Enduring Grace Through Cognitive Decline
Even as Alzheimer’s disease eroded her memory and cognitive functions over a span exceeding ten years, family tributes note that she retained a remarkable capacity to observe beauty in her daily surroundings. Memorial records emphasize her consistent expression of gratitude for both small and large aspects of life, a characteristic that defined her personal interactions throughout her later years.
Memorial Services and Community Tributes
Visitation arrangements and final tributes are scheduled to take place at the Funeral Garden Park Ward, located at 1150 Yale Ave S, Salt Lake City, UT 84105. Services are slated for Thursday, August 20, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, followed by additional visiting hours on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 12:00 PM and from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, as recorded by Echovita.
Friends and community members wishing to honor her memory are encouraged to leave sympathy messages on the official memorial pages to pay a final tribute to her life and family.