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James O. Taggart, 86, of Shelbyville, IL, passed away at 1:37 P. M. Monday February 2, 2009 at the Shelby Memorial Hospital, Shelbyville.
Jim was born Jan. 11, 1923 in St. Louis, MO the son of Oliver Redford and Alice Williams Taggart.
He married Margie B.Bitzer Feb. 26, 1944 in Collinsville, IL and she passed away August 17, 2003.
Jim graduated from Collinsville, IL High School where he was captain of the football team and was an all-state center and linebacker.He then graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in journalism and was a member of ROTC and Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.He then entered the United States Army with the rank of First Lieutenant and served in the artillery corps in Germany during WWII . In 1947 he co-founded Bitzer-Taggart Motor Co. in Shelbyville, the community in which he and Margie chose to raise their family. He co-owned and operated the business until his retirement.He co-founded, and was very active in the operation of Lithia Springs Marina on Lake Shelbyville from 1971 until the present.
Jim was a 61 year member of the Shelbyville Rotary Club where he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow, the highest honor bestowed on a Rotarian.He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Shelbyville and was a former member and past president of the Shelby Memorial Hospital Board of Directors.In 1979 he was honored as “Outstanding Business Man of the Year” by the Shelbyville Chamber of Commerce for his business leadership and integrity.He loved his family, and he loved his community.
Jim was an avid bridge competitor in several bridge groups.He was a masterful flower gardener and was deservedly proud of his backyard garden and greenhouse which he loved to share with family and friends.Jim was an accomplished artist, working in oil on canvas.Many friends are the proud recipients of his artwork.
He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, nephew and civic minded leader.
Jim believed service to others was the greatest work in life and that trust, ethics and the love of others were the greatest rewards.
Surviving are his three sons: Robert Taggart and wife Pam of Houston, TX, Winston Taggart and wife Sharon of Lafayette, IN and Tom Taggart of Detroit, MI; grandchildren: Marney Oligschlaeger and husband Dr. David of Shelbyville, Mark Taggart and wife Melissa of Las Vegas, Nev., Jill Milnesand husband Mark of Springfield, IL, Bill Taggart and wife Angie of Monument, CO, AnnPlimpton and husband Kevin of Tucson, AZ, Courtney Wolf and husband Brian of Indianapolis, INand Makenna Taggart of Lafayette, IN; great grandchildren: Allison Oligschlaeger, Emily Oligschlaeger, Sarah Taggart, Grace Taggart, Benjamin Taggart, Lucas Milnes, Emily Taggart, Haylee Taggart, Kaleb Taggart and Samuel Wolf; brother Lew Taggart and wife Shirley of Tulsa, OK.
He was preceded in death by his wife Margie, parents and sister Betty Howell.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Friday Feb. 6, 2009 in the First Presbyterian Church of Shelbyville.Rev. Jeff Grote will officiate.Visitation will be from 10:00 am until time of the service on Friday at the church.Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville.Memorials can be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Shelbyville or Shelby Memorial Hospital. Arrangements are by Lockart-Green Funeral Home in Shelbyville.On line condolences may be directed to the family at www.lockartgreenfuneralhome.com
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