Gaynell Taylor Kiser, 65, passed away at home on February 6, 2024, following a lengthy illness.

She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Earl Junior Kiser; sons, Joshua Kiser and Jason (Eliza) Kiser; granddaughters, Laurette, Vivian and Virginia; brother Larry (Gertrue) Taylor; and numerous loved sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Virginia (Leroy) Henderson, and three sisters who died in infancy.

Gaynell was born on April 2, 1958, in Statesville, N.C., to James Hardin Taylor and Nellie Archie Phipps Taylor. As a child, her fondest memories were of trips to the North Carolina mountains with her cousins Linda Williams and Donna Kay Rose.

She graduated from Statesville Senior High School and completed Davis Hospital Nursing School to become a registered nurse. In her career as a nurse, she worked in pediatrics at Davis Hospital, followed by a period of time in-home health before returning to pediatrics at Davis. Outside of her employment, she was always a nurse; she cared for her mother, her mother-in-law and her husband through difficult illnesses.

In 1980, she married Earl Junior Kiser. A year later, she continued a Taylor family tradition and gave birth to identical twin sons. She and Junior shared their love of fishing with their sons and, eventually, their granddaughters. She was very proud of her sons, Joshua and Jason, and her granddaughters, Laurette, Vivian and Virginia.

Throughout her life, family was very important to Gaynell. She was always close to her brother Larry and her sister Virginia (Toot), as well as all of her sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, cousins, and extended family on both the Taylor and Kiser sides.

Gaynell enjoyed gardening and growing flowers. She was given an amaryllis when her father died when she was 16 and kept it going – and multiplying – until the end of her life. She crocheted countless blankets for lucky new moms, newlyweds, family members and friends. She was an excellent cook – known for her biscuits, vegetable beef stew, and chicken dumplings that she always brought to Taylor family reunions.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, February 8, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Troutman Funeral Home. A graveside service to celebrate the life of Gaynell will be held on Friday, February 9, 2024, at 1 p.m. at Kiser Leftwich Cemetery, a family cemetery in Dante, Va.

Gaynell was well loved, and she will be missed. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County or Trout Unlimited.

Troutman Funeral Home is serving the family.