To Taylor Ashby, mornings were always the same — the quiet shuffle of his wife, Alex, leaving their bedroom, the soft kiss they shared before he made her coffee, the simple greeting that started their day. “I’m still waiting to wake up and see her,” he said through tears. “Just scoot out of our bedroom and give her a kiss and make her a cup of coffee… get our day started with a good morning. And ‘I love you.’”But Taylor knows that morning isn’t coming.Alex Ashby — a devoted wife, mother, and beloved teacher — died early Friday morning after crashing into a large utility pole on Pine Island Road.Now, Taylor is holding on for their two young children: five-year-old Landon and 13-month-old Estella.“Whenever you want to talk to mommy, you can say good morning or hello,” he tells them. “And just know that she’s very proud of you. And she loves you very much.”The couple met through their shared passion for teaching.Alex, 37, taught science at Ida Baker High School, where she became known for her kindness, humor, and dedication.“Teaching is a tireless, thankless profession,” Taylor said. “But she loved her students. She gave her best effort.” Behind her bright spirit, Alex carried a lifelong burden: cystic fibrosis.She passed the disease on to both of her children.But instead of slowing down, Alex fought with determination. She ran the New York City Half Marathon, advocated for cystic fibrosis awareness, and refused to let the illness define her.“It’s a constant theme we’ve had in our lives,” Taylor said. “We’ve struggled a lot through her medical illnesses — hospitalizations, home IVs… but she always kept going.”Taylor remembers his wife’s nighttime drives — a simple ritual that helped her clear her mind when she couldn’t sleep.“She had diabetes, so if she was hungry, she’d go get something to eat,” he said with a soft smile. “She loved McDonald’s. She loved Big Macs.” Now, bright flowers line the spot where she took her last breaths. Taylor says each day gets a little easier, but the small, everyday habits make the loss feel overwhelming.“Making coffee in the morning,” he said quietly. “Not being able to make her favorite meals because she hated to cook… putting up Christmas decorations early. Those moments hit the hardest.” A celebration of life will be held Nov. 29 at Cape Christian.Taylor asks that everyone wear bright, vibrant colors — because that’s what Alex would want.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

To Taylor Ashby, mornings were always the same — the quiet shuffle of his wife, Alex, leaving their bedroom, the soft kiss they shared before he made her coffee, the simple greeting that started their day.

“I’m still waiting to wake up and see her,” he said through tears. “Just scoot out of our bedroom and give her a kiss and make her a cup of coffee… get our day started with a good morning. And ‘I love you.’”

But Taylor knows that morning isn’t coming.

Alex Ashby — a devoted wife, mother, and beloved teacher — died early Friday morning after crashing into a large utility pole on Pine Island Road.

Now, Taylor is holding on for their two young children: five-year-old Landon and 13-month-old Estella.

“Whenever you want to talk to mommy, you can say good morning or hello,” he tells them. “And just know that she’s very proud of you. And she loves you very much.”

The couple met through their shared passion for teaching.

Alex, 37, taught science at Ida Baker High School, where she became known for her kindness, humor, and dedication.

“Teaching is a tireless, thankless profession,” Taylor said. “But she loved her students. She gave her best effort.”

Behind her bright spirit, Alex carried a lifelong burden: cystic fibrosis.

She passed the disease on to both of her children.

But instead of slowing down, Alex fought with determination. She ran the New York City Half Marathon, advocated for cystic fibrosis awareness, and refused to let the illness define her.

“It’s a constant theme we’ve had in our lives,” Taylor said. “We’ve struggled a lot through her medical illnesses — hospitalizations, home IVs… but she always kept going.”

Taylor remembers his wife’s nighttime drives — a simple ritual that helped her clear her mind when she couldn’t sleep.

“She had diabetes, so if she was hungry, she’d go get something to eat,” he said with a soft smile. “She loved McDonald’s. She loved Big Macs.”

Now, bright flowers line the spot where she took her last breaths.

Taylor says each day gets a little easier, but the small, everyday habits make the loss feel overwhelming.

“Making coffee in the morning,” he said quietly. “Not being able to make her favorite meals because she hated to cook… putting up Christmas decorations early. Those moments hit the hardest.”

A celebration of life will be held Nov. 29 at Cape Christian.

Taylor asks that everyone wear bright, vibrant colors — because that’s what Alex would want.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.