Donald H Taft

Donald H. Taft, 83, of Beaumont, Texas passed away on Saturday, May 18, 2019.  Funeral services for Mr. Taft will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, located at 3290 W.Cardinal Dr., Beaumont, Texas 77705 with burial to follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Beaumont, Texas under the directions of Mercy Funeral Home.  A public viewing will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Mercy Funeral Home Chapel and on Thursday, May 23, 2019 from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at the church.

Donald H. Taft was born September 14, 1935 in Austin, Texas.  He moved to San Antonio where he received his formal education at an early age and graduated in 1952 from Phyllis Wheatly High School.   He attended St. Phillip Junior College and then Commonwealth College of Science where he received his certification to practice Funeral Directing and Embalming in the State of Texas.

In 1955, he married Gloria Fisher and to that union four (4) children were born.  They were married Forty-Eight (48) years until her demise in September 2003.   On October 23, 2004, he married Stella Stevens Laday.  They were  married (14) beautiful, loving, caring, years.

In 1958, Mr. Taft and his family moved to Beaumont, Texas to work with his father, William H. Taft, Founder of Mercy Funeral System.  He had been in this business over Fifty (50) years.  After moving to Beaumont, he united with Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, where he was a member for over Fifty (50) years. 

From 1953 to 1961, he was a member of the U.S. Marine Corp Reserve.  Affiliated with several organizations, he served on the Beaumont local Selective Service System Board for a number of years; appointed by the Governor to the Texas Funeral Service Commission and served there for seven (7) years; Charter member (1972) of Leadership Beaumont; currently a member of the Appomattox Club; member of the Board of Directors of Nutrition and Services for Seniors; and served as Vice-President of Beaumont Spindletop Rotary Club.  In June 2010, he was installed as President of the Beaumont Spindletop Rotary Club, serving in this capacity for one year.

Other organizations he has served:

 Beaumont Chamber of Commerce

Trustee Board of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church

Independent Funeral Directors Association of Texas

National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association

Young Men’s Business League (YMBL)

Other city and community involvement

Hobbies:

 Member of Texas Rough Riders RV Club, Avid runner, former Skydiver for over 20 years.  He set the Texas state record for having the most jumps in one day.  He jumped 60 times on his 60th birthday.

He is survived by his loving wife of fourteen years, Stella Taft of Beaumont, three daughters, Sandy Russo of Houston, Texas, Paula Taft and Penny Taft both of Beaumont, one son, Michael Taft of Beaumont; step daughter, April Laday of Spring, TX; step son, Melton Laday, Jr. of Houston, Texas; one brother, Harlan “Billy” Taft of Beaumont, TX; numerous grand and great grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and many friends.