Dorothy Jeanne Taggart

Dorothy Jeanne Taggart, 84, formerly of Chester, IL , Athens, TN and Jackson, MO., died June 29, 2011 at Mother of Good Counsel Home in St. Louis, MO where she had been a resident for a year.

She was born December 8, 1926 in Chester, IL.  She is the daughter of John A. and Emma Eilermann Jany.  Mrs. Taggart grew up in Chester and graduated from Chester High School.  She was a Girl Scout member and leader, lifeguard and swimming instructor, and worked at the First National Bank.  She and Thurston T. Taggart were married June 3, 1949.  They then moved to Jackson, MO where he was employed as a manager at Jackson Hosiery Mill.  He remained a textiles plant manager for the balance of his career, as the family moved first to Koscuisko, MS in 1956, then to Humboldt, TN and later to Indiana, PA before returning to Jackson in 1964.  While in Jackson, they belonged to the First Presbyterian Church.  Mrs. Taggart was an active community volunteer and was honored by the Otahki (now Missouri Heartland) Council for her many years of service to the Girl Scouts.

In 1976 the couple moved to Athens, TN where Mrs. Taggart was employed as a health benefits coordinator at Mayfield Dairy until her retirement in 1993.

In 2001 the couple returned to Chester, where Mr. Taggart died on April 10, 2002.  Mrs. Taggart was a member of St. John Ev. Lutheran Church, the Chester Womens Club and the Chester Hospital Auxiliary.  She was a lifelong and devoted fan of the St. Louis Baseball Cardinals.

She moved to the Apartment Community of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, IL in early 2007, where she lived until June of last year.

She was preceded in death by:

  • Parents: John A. and Emma nee Eilermann, Jany
  • Husband: Thurston T. Taggart
  • Sister: Ruth Jany Schueren
  • Brothers: Harry and Donald who died in childhood

She is survived by:

  • Two daughters
    • Jill (Richard) Claybour of St. Louis, MO
    • Susan (Raymond) Morris of Pacific, MO
  • Granddaughter: Emily (Joshua) Gieselman of Pacific, MO
  • Grandson: John Morris of Duncan, OK
  • Sister-in-law: Alice Taggart Eggemeyer of Chester, IL
  • Nephew
  • Two nieces
  • Cousins
  • Step-grandchildren
  • Great grandchildren
  • Many other relatives and friends.

Special Thanks: The family extends its special thanks to the loving and inspiring staff at Mother of Good Counsel Home and the Apartment Community.

Memorials: Memorials may be made to New Palestine Cemetery Association, the Mother of Good Counsel Home, or the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows Apartment Community. 

Visitation: Friends may call from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm Saturday, July 2, 2011 at Kurrus Funeral Home in Belleville, IL. 

Funeral: Funeral services will follow at 2:00 pm at the Chapel of the Apartment Community of Our Lady of the Snows with the Rev. Richard Brendel officiating.  Burial will be in New Palestine Cemetery, Walsh, IL.

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