Rachel Marie Taylor

"Our Precious Bittersweet Little Lamb"

Rachel Marie Taylor was born stillborn at 20 weeks, 5 days gestation on May 31, 2022 to parents "Melliza" (Melissa) Dawn McCulley Taylor and Colby Shon Taylor of Weatherford, OK. Weighing only 2.8 ounces and being only 7 inches long, she fit perfectly in the palm of your hand. Although she did not get the opportunity to grow up with her siblings-playing with dolls, singing karaoke, having dance parties, jamming out with the family band, playing dress up, riding roller coasters, jumping around on the furniture like all of Mommy's little monkeys do, having family game nights or movie nights, and numerous other family favorite activities, she was very loved. 

Her family was so excited to find out that she was coming. Her big sister Izzy was especially excited that she was due to be born on October 12, 2022, which is just a few days before Izzy's birthday, and she so desperately wished to have a birthday buddy. Izzy was so excited to be a big sister again. She would talk and sing to Mommy's tummy nearly every night and snuggle Mommy for hours talking about how she couldn't wait to meet her new baby sibling declaring "This one is MY baby!" Surely, Rachel loved hearing her sister talk to her, sing to her, and already whispering secrets to her. She certainly would start moving around a lot when she heard Sissy's voice. Early on in the pregnancy, Izzy also gave Mommy a special teddy bear that she had picked out saying that it was for the baby and she was going to give it to her as soon as she was born. In the meantime, she wanted Mommy to sleep with it and cuddle it until sweet Rachel could have it herself.

Elli was also very excited to be able to join the Big Sister Club, although she had lots...and lots...and lots... of questions about just how exactly that was going to happen and she wasn't entirely sure how she felt about not being "the baby" anymore. Both Izzy and Elli would play with baby dolls together anxiously preparing for precious Rachel's arrival. 

Riley may not have said much about how he felt about being a big brother again, but his love and care for his little sisters as he protects them, snuggles them, and helps them (with literally anything and everything) is obvious. Without a doubt, he would've been just as protective over sweet baby Rachel and he would've done anything to be able to meet her here on Earth. He'd cuddle her, feed her, and even change her stinky diapers! Rachel would've absolutely adored her big brother as he would've played with her, played his guitar for her, tickled her, joked with her, made her laugh hysterically, and loved her with his whole heart-even when she would inevitably annoy him at some point, perhaps even often, but he'd be kind and patient with her nonetheless like he already is with Izzy and Elli. 

Mommy and Daddy were so excited about having another baby in the house. Mommy would've snuggled her and had a very difficult time getting anything done around the house because baby cuddles are so much more fun than chores. Mommy would've had a blast doing makeovers with her and getting her ready for her first Daddy/Daughter dance. Daddy would've danced the night away with her until she'd abandon him to go dance with her friends and then he'd make sure to capture every moment with lots of pics and videos.

Mommy and Daddy both would've helped her with her homework and comforted her when she was having a hard time. Mommy and Daddy both prayed over Rachel all the time throughout this pregnancy as they hoped and dreamt about her future. Mommy and Daddy would've brought her to church and taught her all about God and how much He loves her-to guide her in the way that she should go (Proverbs 22:6). She most definitely knows God's love now-even more than the rest of us do. For whatever reason, Rachel got to go straight to heaven even before living her life here on Earth. She never had to know the hurt and pain this broken world can bring. She never had to know what it feels like to have someone make fun of her. She never had to get sick or hurt or break a bone. She's resting in the arms of Jesus now and her family finds peace and comfort in that fact, as they can only imagine the joy that she has there that could not be as perfect here on Earth. 

Meanings of names have always been important to Melliza and Colby as they selected names for their kids so they prayed fervently for the right name that God would want for Rachel. When Colby said that God had revealed to him that she would be another sweet girl and that her name would be Rachel, Melliza looked up the meaning of it which was "Ewe" (like a lamb, not like "Oooooo gross" but that was their inside joke). Melliza said, "If that's what God wants, He'll have to reveal it to me too!" as she wanted a name that had more of a significant meaning. However, after finding out at the anatomy ultrasound that she no longer had a heartbeat and had already died in the womb, the name Rachel suddenly made much more sense. Melliza thought about how Jesus is the sacrificial lamb that came to save us all. Now for whatever reason, they had to sacrifice being able to raise sweet Rachel and watch her grow up. Instead she joined Jesus in Heaven, so it was clear that her name shall indeed be Rachel. Melliza had always liked the middle name "Marie" but had always refused to ever use it before because it means "bitter". Bitterness is not a characteristic that they wanted to instill in their children. However, Rachel Marie's life is bittersweet as she was so loved by so many and her family hoped and dreamt about a wonderful life with her, but now their hearts ache to not be able to truly know her until they meet again in heaven. Therefore, Rachel Marie Taylor is "Our Precious Bittersweet Little Lamb".

Rachel is survived by her parents Melliza and Colby Taylor and siblings Riley, Isabella "Izzy", and Elliana "Elli" Taylor of Weatherford, OK; her grandparents Glenn and Roselind McCulley of Weatherford, OK and Barry Hill of Burns Flat, OK; great grandpa Harold Hill of Ardmore, OK; Aunt Kristina Bell, Uncle Robby Bell and cousins Robby and William Bell of Norman, OK; Uncle Ben Hill, Aunt Manu Hill and cousin Ethan Hill of Schweinfurt, Germany; Uncle Chris Taylor and cousins Seth and Savannah Taylor of Burns Flat, OK, cousin CJ Taylor and family of Canute, OK, cousin Ann Walker and family of Elk City, OK, and cousin Tyler Taylor and family of Clinton, OK; Aunt Melissa Davis, cousin Hayley Davis and cousin Chylo Hill and family of Burns Flat, OK; Aunt Jessi Perriman and cousin Korbin Perriman of Burns Flat, OK and cousin Kadin Perriman of Weatherford, OK, as well as numerous other aunts, uncles, great aunts, great uncles, cousins, extended family and so many friends who are like family, who also couldn't wait to meet precious Rachel.

Rachel was preceded in death by two older siblings who also died in the womb (in 2011 and 2015); her grandmother Lana Hill; her second cousin Benjamin Taylor; her great grandparents William and Alberta Johnston, Neal and Florence McCulley, Lestle and Maurine Greenroyd, and Isabel Hill; and several other members of her extended family. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to:

Sleeping Angels Foundation
201 E. Main St.
Yukon, OK 73099

www.SleepingAngelsCare.org

Obituary prepared by family.
 

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