Taylor M DeVoe

Taylor Marie DeVoe, beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, and friend to many, passed away suddenly, at age 27, on Wednesday, August 20th 2025, at home in Byron, IL. Taylor was born in Rockford, IL on Sunday November 9th, 1997, the daughter of Bruce and Sacha DeVoe.

Taylor grew up in Byron, IL playing soccer, running track, participating in many plays/musicals, and playing her baritone.

Taylor was always a bright light in any BHS theatre production she auditioned for. Whether she was a ghostly ancestor in the Addams Family, or part of an angry mob in Big Fish, she made sure that her job in the ensemble was special. Her favorite roll of all was Terk in Tarzan. You could always count on her to bring 110% and to support the others around her.

Taylor took many visual art courses. She was talented in both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional mediums as well as graphic design. Taylor was always so kind and thoughtful. She participated in the Art Show by showing the young children of our community what it looks like to throw on the pottery wheel.

Taylor was also a member of the Byron middle and high school bands, playing the baritone. She always preferred to play the tiny silver baritone that they had at school, because she thought it was cute! Anyone, who sat by Taylor in band, hung out with her in the band room, or sat near her on the bus to Florida, knew that she was kind, a good friend, and liked to make things fun for everyone.

After graduating Byron High School in 2016, Taylor continued to work her high school job, for Father and Son's in Davis Junction, where she very much enjoyed all the customers. She worked, in a pinch, for her stepfather at Paintastic, Inc building decks, painting, and staining, proving she was a hard worker. She then spent several years working for Casey’s in Byron. She enjoyed all her special customers and co-workers in the kitchen. For the last three years she worked for Dollar General in Byron, where she formed many, very special bonds with customers, but especially her co-workers, many of whom became her family.

She enjoyed reading, anime, crafting, making jewelry, playing her ukulele, going to renaissance fairs, spending time with her friends and family, and collecting pretty much anything from coins, to rocks, seashells, anime, books, shoes, and literally everything in between! Growing up, she enjoyed our time at Rock Lake in Lake Mills, WI. She loved boating, tubing, floating, collecting shells, (there were never enough shells…), hanging with great friends, and generally just being at the lake. Venturing into town to get ice cream at Timber Creek was always on the agenda.

She will be missed greatly and is survived by her father Bruce DeVoe, her mother Sacha DeVoe, sister Georgia DeVoe (fiancé Tyler Elsbury), brother James DeVoe, sister Reese Vancko, maternal grandmother Teresa Vancko, Aunt Sharon/Uncle Norv Hartley (Diane Hartley Bonilla and Pete), Aunt Janet DeVoe (Tracy DeVoe Anderson (Kevin), Aunt Bev DeVoe Williams/Uncle Tom,(Katie O’Brien) Uncle Josh Vancko/Aunt Andrea Vancko (Alex and Ethan), Aunt Mandy Muren/Ed Muren (Mateo)

Preceded in death by paternal grandparents, George and Myrtle DeVoe, maternal grandfather James Vancko, Uncle Ken DeVoe, and cousin Cherie Hartley Palmer.

Taylor will be remembered at a Celebration of Life, on Sunday September 7th, 2025, at the Jarrett Prairie Center Museum 7993 N. River Road Byron, IL 61010

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to BHS Art department (696 N. Colfax Rd. Byron, IL 61010)