Mary Taggart

Dr. Mary C. Taggart, age 94, emeritus faculty of Mankato State University, died Sunday, September 19, 2004 at Oaklawn Health Care Center in Mankato. A celebration of her life will be held at 2:30 p.m., Monday, October 11, 2004 at First Congregational U.C.C., 150 Stadium Ct., Mankato, with Rev. Albert H. Thompson III officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. Arrangements are with Mankato Mortuary.

Mary was born on December 19, 1909, in Spencer, Iowa. She was the youngest of four daughters of Emory and Bessie (Burgin) Taggart. Mary graduated from Spencer High School in 1927, attended Grinnell College for one year, and received her B.S. degree in Phys. Ed. and English from the Univ. of Iowa in 1931. She later earned her M.A. degree in English Lit. and Phys. Ed. from Wichita State Univ., and in mid-career earned her PhD in Phys. Ed. from New York Univ. in 1957.

Mary taught elementary and jr. high Phys. Ed. in Des Moines, IA for ten years before serving with the American Red Cross overseas during WWII as a recreation director for hospitals in the Pacific theater. Since 1948, she had a 27 year career as a professor at Mankato State Teachers College (Mankato State University), teaching and advising undergraduate and graduate students in physical education and recreation. She enjoyed many active years after her retirement in 1975, pursuing lifelong interests. Mary was a long-time member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and also many professional associations. She enjoyed playing golf, gardening, reading, bird watching, training and showing her golden retrievers, and traveling all over the world. Mary was still skating and skiing even through her eighties.

Mary is survived by one brother, William R. Taggart of Wichita, KS, four nieces, five nephews and their families. A beloved sister, cherished aunt, dear friend, admired colleague, and good neighbor, Mary will be missed by all who knew, loved and cared for her.