Ray Taggart

Ray Taggart, 90, of Winterset, Iowa joyfully went to be with his Savior on Monday, June 10, 2013 at his home, terminating a charmed and amazing life. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 15, at Ochiltree Funeral Service in Winterset, Iowa; where the family will be present to receive friends one hour prior to services beginning at 10 a.m.. Burial will follow in the Avon Cemetery near Carlisle, Iowa with military honors provided by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8142 and American Legion Post 184 both of Winterset, Iowa. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Madison County Elderly Services of Winterset, Iowa. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.ochiltree.com. Everett Ray Taggart was born in Jefferson City, Missouri on July 4, 1922; the first son of Everett and Goldie (Williams) Taggart. He graduated from Windsor High School where he was a star center position basketball player; leading his team to the state championship four years in a row. His athletic abilities secured him a scholarship to Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts. Upon receiving an “expedited” B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in December of 1941, Ray was commandeered into the United States Merchant Marines. After a six week crash course in Marine Engineering, he spent the entirety of World War II as Third Mate Chief Engineer on Liberty, Tanker, and Victory ships. After surviving being sunk by German U-boats three times in the North Atlantic, rescued from weeks in a lifeboat, and surviving an airplane crash in Newfoundland, Canada; Ray settled into a civilian life of engineering in 1945. He had married while on leave. His daughter Kay was born in 1944 and his daughter Pam was born six years later. After the war, Ray became Chief Engineer for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Moving to Des Moines, Iowa in 1955, he became Chief Engineer for Diamond Laboratories. There he met Barb and her daughter, Susan. Ray and Barb were married December 19, 1959. Kay was tragically killed in an automobile accident at age 17, being hit by a drunk driver. During Ray’s career, he invented equipment revolutionizing the pharmaceuticals industry. His Desiccation machines extended the shelf life of medications from one year refrigeration to five years un-refrigerated. His invention was so successful Diamond Laboratories was acquired by Syntex Corporation primarily to secure Ray’s patents. As successful as he was professionally, his family was more important. Ray and Barb had three daughters and two sons. Ray spent the balance of his engineering career as an “absolute zero temperature engineer” traveling the world troubleshooting installation and operation of Desiccation machines. Over those decades, he was classified as “missing” in, but survived the deadly 7:19 a.m. 8.1 magnitude Mexico City earthquake of September 19, 1985; being hit by a train, and numerous (last count 9) heart attacks. Ray was a member of the Avon Community Church near Carlisle, Iowa and attended the First Christian Church while in Winterset, Iowa. He was also a Mason, a member of the Order of Eastern Star and the White Shrine. When he had time off from work he loved to camp, swim, ski, hunt and fish, especially in Canada where family recalls several special fishing expeditions. He routinely enjoyed watching football, golf and basketball with family and friends. He also loved puzzling, reading and spending time at the Winterset Senior Center with his friends. All this said; Ray was a devoted son, husband, father, brother, grandfather, great grandfather and uncle who loved nothing more than spending time with family. Ray is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Barb Taggart of Winterset, Iowa; five daughters, Pamela (Douglas) Ayres of Sedona, Arizona; Susan Malloy of Des Moines, Iowa; Kimmy; Tammy (Mark) Ellwanger, and Sharee (Tim) Owens all of Winterset, Iowa; two sons, Everett (Kathy) Taggart of Bothell, Washington and Shane (Rene) Taggart of Mondamin, Iowa; 20 grandchildren, Wyatt Woods, Kodi Kae Callies; Winton and Tristan Foulds; Jason and Justin Taggart, Stefan Gillette; Paige and Travis Shivers; Stephanie Elkin; Brooke Ellwanger; Briahnna and Dustyn Wood; Tanner Owens; Marae, Heather, Nikkilas, Chelsea and Kaylinn Taggart; 10 great grandchildren, Eli Woods; Chloe, Noah, Piper and Judah Callies; William, Isabella, Quinten and Meya Shivers and Kyra Darr, with the eleventh on the way, Owyn Woods, scattered throughout the United States; and a sister, Peggy Hunt of Cleburne, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Kay Taggart; his sisters, Bea Gilman and Wanda Mullins; and a brother, Robert “Bud” Taggart.