Phyllis Joan Taggart

Phyllis Joan Rexrode Taggart departed this world on June 11, 2012 to join her loved ones who preceded her. Phyllis was born on December 10, 1926 to Wilber and Martha Rexrode. She spent most of her childhood in the Crestline and Mansfield, Ohio area and graduated from Mansfield High in 1944. After graduation she was proud to support the WWII cause by drilling jeep carburetors and soldering Navy radios.Her next adventure included working as an airbrush artist in New York City while attending Barbizon Modeling School. Some of her favorite memories were climbing to the crown of the Statue of Liberty and dancing on top of the Empire State Building. It was in New York that she met her future husband, Richard L. Taggart, an Army officer.Marriage resulted in four children, which for the most part, she raised alone in Wheeling, West Virginia. In 1964, Phyllis earned her diploma as a Licensed Practical Nurse. She worked for twenty-three years at Ohio Valley Medical Center, mainly in Intensive and Coronary Care.She retired in 1987 but remained very active and engaged in life. She supported various causes and attended St. James Lutheran Church. She enjoyed lessons in scuba diving, computer science and creative writing. Several of her poems and stories have been published.For the past four years Phyllis has resided in the Seattle area to be close to family. Her oldest daughter, Catherine L. Fowler, preceded her in death. Phyllis is survived by her brother Wilber Eugene Rexrode, daughter Elizabeth Taggart Rose, daughter Beatrice Taggart Hine (Ron), and son, Ret. Major William H. Taggart (Lisa). Her grandchildren: Janette, Jonathan, Arthur and Thomas and great grandson, Hayden, also survive her.Phyllis traveled widely throughout her life and had a knack of making and keeping life-long friends. All who knew her will miss her inquisitive mind and zest for life.