Ariel Nicole Taylor

With a heavy heart, we announce the passing of Ariel Nicole Taylor, who departed this world too soon on November 15th, 2024. Ariel was born in Charleston, West Virginia, at CAMC Hospital on September 1st 2013. Ariel was a big sister to John, Travis, Dean, and Jayden Taylor.

Ariel was a bright light in our lives and impacted everyone she met. Ariel loved Paw Patrol and often fought with staff about who her favorite was. There was never a dull moment in her presence, and it was known Ariel was the “boss” no matter where she was. Ariel loved school and Peppa Pig. There was not a day Ariel did not have her markers and coloring books out. Ariel was fearless, with a contagious laugh that filled the rooms of EYES daily. Ariel was a big sister, which showed when she sometimes mothered the other EYES children and the staff.

Our hearts may be broken, but we can find joy knowing Ariel was fearless until the end. Although Ariel was with us for a short period, the memories we shared with her will be forever cherished in our hearts. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and Ariel had a village bursting with love.

In memory of Ariel:

The first day I met Ariel was at her house with my worker. She was standing on her porch with my little pony tennis shoes, she had them on the wrong feet, she giggled when I asked her about them and sat down, put her foot on me and had me help her switch them. Her giggle was infectious.

- Natalie Buskirk

I have so many memories. I took her to her first movie. Katrina and I got to see how excited she was to see the Easter Bunny in the Mall on our way to the movie. I took her to pick out her Easter dress, which she said was the best day ever. Getting to read her stories at the cabin before tucking her into bed. Her little giggle when she was truly happy.

- Diane Slater

Ariel was a child who left everlasting memories. She was strong-willed and always had to have the last word or action. She loved to argue, in general. If you told her how pretty she was in something, she would argue about that. While at the cabin, we would go for daily walks to visit the animals, she loved provoking the donkey and would argue with it. She loved one-on-one attention, especially reading books or playing board/card games (which she cheated), and always had to win.

She always had to be the boss of everyone.

- Susan Tackett

Ariel was the number one designer of the new Matthew Pack Children’s Home coming in 2025. She never skipped a beat to tell newcomers about the new shelter and how stoked we were to have a new home. Ariel and I sat on the floor and rummaged through over thirty marble samples for countertops. Ariel left no sample unturned because she wanted to pick the right one. While Ariel selected the brightest red, I convinced her to consider my choices. This was the first compromise Ariel permitted me to have. Ariel and I sat on the floor and talked about the new shelter and what every room was. While Ariel will not move to our new home, she will be taken with us. Ariel influenced the entire build of our new children’s home, impacting children for several years. I’m forever thankful for the time I spent with Ariel, and when we begin our new journey, I know she will be following us. Aside from being my co-captain in creating our new home, she reminded me why I returned to EYES to be the Shelter Supervisor. One day after her first therapy session, she was asked to write down some of the safe adults in her life. I saw my name on the first spot, and I knew at that moment that I was where I was meant to be. We were her safe adults, her family, and she knew no matter what, we would love her through anything.

- Tab Conn

My sweet Ariel, although at times she could be sassy. Ariel would always get on my desk and get things all out. In this particular memory, Ariel deformed a leggo pig on my desk. Recently, Ariel was visiting. I came in the next day with my desk with everything moved. I went upstairs to ask her what happened to my desk and found evidence on the floor while going upstairs. I asked Ariel what she did to my desk. Ariel began running to the next room with a smile from ear to ear and didn't say a word. Ariel would not admit or deny what happened to my desk. Ariel was the resident's big sister. Ariel knew everything and anything about staff and residents. Ariel always made jokes and could light up a room. Ariel made me a better person and worker. I will forever carry her with me. These memories will forever be dear to my heart.

- Raine Hill

One day, during group, Ariel was asked to identify her family, and in return, Ariel named every staff member in the building. Shortly after, Ariel was asked to identify her friends. Ariel began to spout off all the other residents at EYES. It was at that moment that Ariel knew she had a family.

- EYES staff

Ariel was my best friend. We did everything together: from coloring on Sundays, braiding our hair, splashing around in the pool, and so many other moments I wouldn't trade for anything.

One of my favorite recent memories of her was from our last Trunk-or-Treat event. She asked me, "You go with me?" So I did. Ariel absolutely loved to dress up, especially if it meant she could be Chase from Paw Patrol for Halloween. From the minute we left, she was beaming. She held my hand the entire time, giddy with excitement every time the line moved. "We goin' Chick or Cheating!" she said, squeezing my hand. When her bucket was quickly filled with candy, she noticed that she received bubblegum. She knew that a rule we had for our residents is that gum was prohibited. She looked at me and said, "Ooh, I got bubblegum. We not allowed!" I remember laughing because on a day like Halloween, where candy is a kid's only priority, she was still making sure we followed the rules. We always joked she was our "junior staff." Ariel was a stickler. She was also a comedian, a princess, "the boss," and sometimes a Paw Patrol character, but to me, she was my best friend. The girl who illuminated my life and everyone's around her.

- Kayla Billings

Ariel was born on September 1st, 2013. Ariel is the oldest and only sister of 5. On Friday, November 15th 2024, Ariel left this world behind. Ariel was a force to be reckoned with. She was the boss and made sure everyone knew it. She could light up a room when she entered, immediately taking a sassy stance and proclaiming she was in charge and you can't tell her no. Ariel loved to joke with others and smiled and laughed often. Ariel had such a huge personality for one so small. Ariel's favorite activity was swimming, and she loved school. Ariel would often ask for extra 'school work' to work on and would happily spend her evenings coloring, doing school work, and organizing her papers. Ariel was rarely found without the presence of a stuffed friend, and her paw patrol army grew almost daily it seemed. While in our care, we were blessed to see her transform from a shy, quiet, and reserved little girl into a tiny boss who was fearless and would tell everyone who's really in charge. Ariel was loved by so many, and her presence is a loss that is being felt deeply. Ariel was taken from us too soon, but we will cherish our memories with her forever. She made a huge impact on those around her, and changed so many people's lives for the better. Ariel brought joy and mischief everywhere she went, and made it impossible not to love her. We will always love you Ariel and you will live on in our hearts and memories forever.

- Katy Yost

Ariel, it’s hard to write a story about her and keep it short because she gave you so much to look forward to everyday. She was spunky, she was smart, and you could always count on her to give you her version of positive words every day from the moment you reached the top of those stairs and seen her sitting in one of those chairs. She was a paw patrol, coloring, puzzle solving queen. She knew everything about you whether you wanted her to or not, from everyone’s schedule to when you aren’t there for one day. My favorite part about Ariel Taylor is you could be having the worst day, not looking or feeling your best and she didn’t care, all that mattered is you were there and you were there for her. She was the easiest little girl to please and keep happy. She didn’t require much, just love and your undivided attention and sometimes for you not to laugh even though what she said to you sometimes made it really hard not to. I watched her grow from this little girl who didn’t talk hardly at all into this bright little girl who once got comfortable around you she wouldn’t quit talking. Ariel loved folding her clothes and being organized, she loved her hair brushes, her hair bows and the occasional lip gloss. She loved to sit on the slide at the park on outings with either Peppa or one if not all of her paw patrols at the park. The last memory I got with Ariel was the day I left for maternity leave to be with my new child and family; we were on our way back from her therapy appointment, listening to her favorite song. “Try Jesus,” and she didn’t talk that whole time in the car, but when that song came on, she sang her favorite part. “Try Jesus, don’t try me.” Upon returning, Ariel was sneaky and liked to play jokes with me and stole my candy and ran with it, then she started climbing chairs, standing on the table in the shelter, smiling ear to ear about it, knowing good and well she should probably not do that. But all of that is okay because I’d do anything to get her down off a chair or table one last time, to see her coloring at her favorite spot, to watch her put her hair up the same way a thousand times, to carry around all her stuffed animals everywhere she went. Ariel made such an impact on those around her and she shaped me into the BSS I am now. And I’m thankful we could be her family, and she felt love all around her with us, and she never was alone. I’ll miss everything about her. I’ll miss her being part of my everyday routine.

Love you always, Alyssa Allen or as you’d call me “Aleese or you”

- Alyssa Allen

Ariel Nicole Taylor. She was either quiet and sweet or silly and sassy. Either way, she touched our hearts. We loved Ariel as our own. Ariel loved coming to school; she would rush off the bus to see what she could get into. Losing Ariel is as though I have a hole in my heart. She will leave a missing piece in our class.

Ariel loved to be silly and “pick” with the adults in our class. Daily she would organize our books and other materials. I’m going to think of Ariel now when I look at books and puzzles. Who will organize all of our books? Ariel loved Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol, especially Rubble. Ariel leaves many friends who loved and cared for her. What an honor and a privilege to spend each day helping and loving Ariel and being her teacher. We will continue to love and care for her and remember her. You are an angel now. Rest in peace, sweet girl.

- Gretchen Carter, Shady Elementary

Ariel in her short little life she was able to touch so many people. Ariel was my sparring partner in quick witted banter. When I first met her she was this little ball of energy at the cabin and had a few CPS staff sitting at the kitchen table, face in their hands and just worn down. She had been on one of her rolls that evening, I came in and sat her down in the living room and told her how things would be going from now on. She made a few little quips here and there and I gave her that stern look and told her I was not playing. She looked up at me smiling that little grin of hers and said as she shook her head no, "Seana don't play". From there grew our slogan. Every time I would see her and if I would have to give her a redirection she would giggle and say "Seana don't play". another memory that I have is when I brought her and her brother Jon a bunch of plastic Easter eggs to hunt when we were at the cabin on Easter weekend with them. Let me tell ya we hunted eggs. I thought my coworkers would hate me because they had to hunt eggs for weeks after that. Ariel and I made up little songs about everything. I could get her distracted after she was mad about something by singing to her about being so dramatic and doing jazz hands while we sang. We would sing "Why ya gott be soooooo, DRAMAAAAAAATIC?" I know Ariel is organizing her mansion in heaven and giving St. Peter a run for his money.

-Seana Harrison