Sherlea Taylor

Sherlea Taylor, 86

September 16, 1938 – May 27, 2025

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Sherlea Taylor, a pioneering New Mexican businesswoman, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and civic leader. She passed away peacefully on May 27, 2025, at the age of 86, surrounded by her loving family.

Sherlea was born on September 16, 1938, in Roswell, New Mexico, to Jessie E. McCraw and Gypsy Lois McCraw. She arrived at St Mary’s Hospital and spent her early days living in a small house near that former hospital site. She grew up in Roswell and attended public schools for all her early years except for a brief road trip with her parents, brothers and sisters: Nancy, Gwyn, Jess and Jackie as they looked for work in California at age 12. That itinerant work force picked fruit and eventually made enough to make it back to Roswell to finish her schooling. She graduated from Roswell High School in 1956. That same year, she married the love of her life, Paul Taylor Jr., and together they built a life grounded in partnership, hard work, and devotion as they were married for nearly 60 years.

From very humble beginnings, Sherlea started with nothing and rose through the ranks with perseverance and endurance unmatched. Though she never had the opportunity to pursue higher education, it only fueled her determination to succeed—in both business and life.

Sherlea and Paul did everything together from the very beginning. After marrying, Sherlea worked as a bookkeeper on various New Mexico road jobs for Armstrong Construction Company, while Paul operated heavy equipment at the sites. In the late 1950s, they settled for good in Roswell, where Paul began work at Roswell Ready Mix.

In 1964, Sherlea earned her New Mexico real estate license, launching a 60-year career that helped shape Roswell’s housing market. After her early success, Paul joined her in the business, and together they opened Taylor Real Estate in a small office at the Monterrey Shopping Center on West Second Street.

In the wake of the Walker Air Force Base closure, Sherlea and Paul secured the Veterans Administration Property Management contract, inspecting, repairing, and selling over 500 government-owned homes. Their hard work and determination saw them through uncertain times and led to the founding of Taylor & Taylor Realtors, LTD, which later became Coldwell Banker Taylor and Taylor Realtors in 1983, operating from 400 West Second Street for more than three decades. Their commitment to service and community became a family tradition. Their eldest son, Paul Taylor III, joined the company in 1984, and their youngest son, L. Todd Taylor, followed in 2015, continuing the family’s proud legacy in real estate and development.

Together, they expanded into design, construction, and development. Their contributions included:

* Quail Village Townhomes

* North Springs Townhomes

* Neighborhoods in Delta Acres, Vista Parkway, and Berrendo Meadows

* School additions, fire stations, and commercial properties throughout New Mexico

Sherlea was also:

* The first woman to be named Realtor of the Year by the Roswell Board of Realtors

* The first woman President of the Roswell Board of Realtors

* The first President of the Roswell Board of Realtors Women’s Council

* One of the first licensed interior designers in New Mexico, under the name *Dancing Tulips*

She was an active member of the Roswell Public Library Foundation and the New Mexico Governor’s Mansion Foundation, where she played a key role in the 2020 refurbishment of the Governor’s Mansion.

Sherlea earned her Realtor of the Year award under extraordinary circumstances. That same year, she severely broke her leg during a Fourth of July “Mother’s Only” Little League softball game sliding into home. With a cast stretching from her toe to her upper thigh for most of the year, she didn’t let the injury slow her down. She continued to show properties with her usual determination—though none of us ever believed a prospective buyer would actually ride in a car she drove, operating the gas pedal with one of her crutches. It was classic Sherlea: unstoppable, practical, and always forging ahead, no matter the obstacle.

That same grit defined her daily life. After Paul’s passing in 2015, Sherlea never truly got over the loss. Yet she continued to lead a productive and valued life, working every weekday into her 86th year. She went to the office daily to collect rent, coordinate repairs, pay bills and check on her sons.

She once threatened to retire after Paul’s death—but her sons wouldn’t allow it. The next time retirement came up, it was only because IBM stopped making electric typewriter ribbon and correction tape that would work on her typewriter. Fortunately, a box of supplies was discovered in storage, and retirement was once again delayed.

After a fall in the parking lot—wearing shoes that were perhaps a little too fashionable—her health began to decline. Her last trip to the office came in December 2024. Her energy, her discipline, and her drive will never be duplicated.

Sherlea’s final months were made bearable by the incredible love and devotion of her caregivers—women who quickly became part of the family. They lived with her 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, tending to her every need with tenderness, strength, and grace. Without them, we would have been lost. Our family is eternally grateful to Nicole Vargas and her extraordinary team of angels: Veronica Lerma, Haide Carillo, Angelica Pina-Rios, Leslie Paola, and “Sierra” Vargas. Their care brought comfort, dignity, and peace to Sherlea’s final days.

Sherlea’s legacy lives on through her loving family. Left behind to cherish her precious memory are her two sons, Paul Taylor III and his wife Terri Eachus Taylor, and L. Todd Taylor and Obdulio Hernandez, all of Roswell; and the absolute joy of her life, her only grandchild, A. Paige Taylor.

She is also survived by her beloved sisters Nancy Moore and Gwyn Bergin, and numerous nieces and nephews that will remember their Aunt Sherlea with deep love and fondness.

A celebration of Sherlea’s life will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in Roswell, New Mexico. Friends, family, and colleagues are warmly invited to attend.

Sherlea Taylor was a trailblazer, a loving matriarch, and a not so quiet force of strength and vision. Her legacy will endure in the community she helped build and in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

Pallbearers:                              Honorary Pallbearers:

Paul Holstun                                   Jimmy Craig

Judge Thomas E.Lilley                    Elijah Vargas

Vernon Crockett                               Bill Holstun

Ralph Vargas                                  Obdulio Hernandez

Ron Hill                                            Pierre Taylor

Ronnie Zamora                                Henri Taylor