IN MEMORIAM: Anna E. Taggart, 94;
From Family Farm To Dairy Queen
ONEONTA – Anna E. Taggart, 94 years, 364 days and 12 hours old, passed away Feb. 21, 2017, just 12 hours shy of 95.
Anna was born Feb. 22, 1922, in Richfield Springs, the daughter of Lawrence Graves and Etta Bouton. She married Willis B. “Jiggs” Taggart at their family home in Oneonta, next to Foti’s Bakery.
As a young women, Anna was a dairy farmer on the family farm in Franklin, and worked as a seamstress with her mother at the Oneonta Dress Factory. Later in life, she and Jiggs ran the Taggart Refuse business. After retiring, Anna worked alongside her son and family at the Oneonta Dairy Queen making beautifully hand-decorated ice cream cakes and befriending and mentoring the young employees.
If you knew Anna you knew her family was first priority, always putting their needs before her own. She was a true matriarch. She maintained her home, lawn and flower beds to perfection until this winter. During the summer months, visitors were apt to find Nan “bottom side up,” scissors in hand, trimming, weeding or planting. When she wasn’t in the garden, she enjoyed her porch and preparing huge family meals for all to enjoy. She was fully immersed and participated in all family events and activities, often saying “If you don’t want me to go, don’t ask.” Nan also diligently kept her weekly hair appointments and religiously worked out at the gym three days per week until the fall of 2016.
Anna was known as Nanny to most and her great-grandchildren, Avery Olivia and Jacob Willis, were the recipients of the better part of her adoration. Nanny was modest and reserved, but to everyone who met her she was memorable for her sweet and loving disposition. If you knew her well, you also knew she had a feisty side and an indomitable spirit to live life to the fullest. Her motto was “keep it simple”.
Anna is survived by her son, Willis B. Taggart Jr. and daughter-in-law, Judy, whom she considered her own, Town of Maryland. Also grandchildren, Amy Taggart of Oneonta, Heather Taggart Morse and her husband Bryon of Oneonta, and Melissa Harris of Alameda, Calif.; great-grandchildren Avery and Jacob Morse and Sophia Harris.
She is also survived by her extended Taggart family in Franklin and the Graves family, including many nieces and nephews; two sisters-in-law, Bev Graves, Town of Maryland, and Beverly Graves of Florida, and special friends Faith, Ted and Donna, Sue, Mary and Jim.
She was predeceased by her parents; all of her siblings; her daughter, Patti; her husband, Jiggs; her grandson, John and her partner in crime, her sister-in-law, Anna Taggart of Franklin. She was also predeceased by her special dog, Zoe.
Private services are planned in the spring.
Donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Online condolences may be sent to, www.lhpfuneralhome.com
Arrangements are entrusted to Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta.