Clyde Taggart
Clyde Eugene Taggart, born August 1, 1935 in Guthrie County, the eldest child of Dale Eugene Taggart and Thelma Lucille (Hogueisson) Taggart, passed away Monday morning, September 15, 2014 in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 79. He graduated from Guthrie Center High School in 1953 where he played football and attended Iowa State for 1 year before he enlisted in the Army in 1954. There he worked on microwave towers in Japan and had lots of adventures that he loved to tell about. He was a sergeant when he finished serving in 1957. He was the mechanic at the Standard Station in Scranton with Bob Oxenford for many years and drove a school bus during that time as well. He then worked for the town of Scranton as the clean water and waste water operator until he retired in 1997. He served as chief of the Scranton Fire Department for 25 years and he was a member of the Greene County 911 board up to the time of his death.
He married Darlene Garnett on July 18, 1958 in Carroll, Iowa and they celebrated their 56th anniversary this summer. They had four sons with whom they shared their many interests: Tom (Kathy), Dennis, Pat (Darcie), and Mike. They have eight grandchildren, Cole (Anna), Chase (Trisha), Kasey, Kelly, Jessica, Wyatt, Emily, and Bailey; also two great grandchildren Reese and Bennett. He is survived by one brother, Leon (Donna) Taggart, two sisters, Joan (Nick) Hove, and Lynn (Jim) Oxenford. He is also survived by brothers in law and sisters in law who were also good friends: Carl Garnett, Gladys Hoffman, Scott and Lucille Cadwell, Doris and Vince Kennedy, Don and Helen Garnett, and Harriett and Byron Paup. He is also remembered by two aunts, Carma Hutchins and Arlene (Neal) Zellmer, several cousins, many nieces and nephews, and lots of friends.
He was a life member of the NRA since 1964 and became an expert on guns, repairing them, trading them, collecting them, using them and enjoying them in particular with his best friend, Scott Cadwell, his sons and grandchildren. He also became an avid collector of numerous things from pocket watches to art work and antique furniture.
His grandfather started him on a tractor at the early age of 4, and his interest never faded as he collected both toy and antique tractors as an adult. His love for tearing things apart and putting them back together also started early and never left. He was the guy who could fix anything, or if he couldn’t then it probably couldn’t be fixed.
He was also the dad who every now and then would surprise the boys by taking them on their Sunday morning paper routes in the CAR (leaving the bikes at home), and finishing with a big breakfast at either the West End or Mary’s Café. And he was the grandpa who made the best rye bread and the mouthwatering “sweet pork”.
He loved to read about all sorts of topics and converse about almost anything. He embraced the computer as another tool that helped him with his collections, helped him as a resource to learn more, and as a tool to keep up with family members and friends.
Although not much of a traveler in recent years, he and Darlene took several trips in their younger years including Spain, Hawaii, Niagra Falls, and Colorado. There were several family vacations in the station wagon to places like the Wisconsin Dells in a pop-up camper and to Pikes Peak. hen later the two of them went by car to most of the lower 48 states when visiting locations where “the boys” had construction projects, and to see family.
He was a true patriot who served his country, was a proud conservative and loved to talk politics.
His children & grandchildren were his pride and joy! The memories he left will live on in our hearts.
The family will hold a visitation for friends and family on Saturday, September 27, 2014 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Scranton Congregate Meals Site on Main Street in Scranton. There will be a small program beginning at 2:00 p.m. which will include the opportunity for anyone and everyone to stand up and share stories as we celebrate the life we were privileged to share with him.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be directed to either the Scranton Volunteer Fire Department or the Greene County 911 Board.
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