Sydney Kay Naylor

Sydney Kay Naylor, née Nicoson, died on August 23, 2026, in Ft. Collins, Colorado, at the age of 79.

Born on May 24, 1947, in Indianola, Iowa, Sydney built much of her life around the comforts of home, a deep appreciation of art and music, and the traditions she cherished. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Colorado State University, a field of study that reflected her lasting interest in the past and in the stories carried by places and objects. Sydney worked for Hewlitt Packard while attending CSU and the Larimer County Assessor’s Office after she earned her degree. Sydney was married to Walter Naylor, with whom she had two daughters, from 1971 - 2000. After her youngest daughter, Kimberly, was born in 1978, Sydney became a full-time homemaker.

That role suited many of her deepest interests and talents. Sydney loved creating a comfortable home, the kind of home that brought to mind the warmth and charm of a Christmas movie. She was an accomplished cook, baker, and gardener, and had an excellent eye for antiques and decorating. She enjoyed planning celebrations, cooking, crafting, reading, and surrounding herself with beautiful, old things. Antiques, folk and fine art, museums, and old houses all held a special place in her life. While she tended toward the traditional, Sydney had wildly eclectic taste in music. Some of her favorite artists included Led Zeppelin, Prince, Laura Brannigan, Tom Waits, B.B. King, and Bob Marley.

Traditions were important to Sydney, especially during the holidays, and many of the things she loved were simple and vivid: the Rocky Mountains, cheeseburgers, a good cup of coffee, the color pink, flowers, and birds. Her sense of humor could be surprising. She had a delightful, contagious laugh that was especially boisterous when chatting with her sister, Donna, on the phone. Sydney was raised Baptist, and singing hymns, praying, and repeating “Jesus saves” brought her comfort in challenging times.

Sydney loved her family very much, especially her grandkids, Charlotte and Max (Ophelia). She is survived by her daughters, Natalee Jacobson and Kimberly Naylor; her son-in-law, Jared Jacobson; her grandchildren, Charlotte Jacobson and Max Jacobson; her sister, Donna Novotny; and her brother, Bill Nicoson. She was preceded in death by her mother, Evelyn Nicoson, and her father, Richard Nicoson.

Sydney’s life also included profound challenges. She struggled with serious mental illness throughout her adult life. Over the last two and a half decades, that illness led her to isolate herself from her family and friends. Despite these challenges, she was well-loved by her family and staff at The Residence at Oakridge Assisted Living, where she lived from 2011 - 2025, and Storybrook Care and Rehabilitation Center, 2025 - 2026.

If you would like to honor Sydney's memory, you might enjoy one of the activities she loved, like listening to some of her favorite music while creating art or making a meal for loved ones. You can honor her by reading a good book or learning about nature and history. You could take a garden walk, spend some time gardening, watch birds, or visit the Avery House, the Lincoln Center, the Old Town Library, or City Park in Ft. Collins. The next time you enjoy a cheeseburger or have a drink at Potts, think of Sydney.

Sydney Naylor will be remembered in the many details that defined her life: a table made welcoming by home-cooked food, flowers and birds noticed with pleasure, music playing from one favorite artist to the next, laughter shared over the phone, and a home shaped by care, tradition, and personal style. Her memory lives on in those who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the National Alliance for Mental Illness in memory of Sydney Naylor are welcome, available at https://donate.nami.org/SydneyNaylor