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Shirley Emma Tackitt

FUNERAL HOME

Oakmont Memorial Park & Mortuary - Lafayette

2099 Reliez Valley Road

Lafayette, California

Shirley Tackitt Obituary

Shirley Emma Van Gieson Tackitt, 67, died peacefully on Wed., April 28, 2004, at her Concord home with her family by her side. Mrs. Tackitt was born March 28, 1937 at Thermalito, Butte County, Calif., a daughter of the late Floyd Iveson and Isabel Eveline Follin Van Gieson. She was a 1955 graduate of Chico High School, with her first job being with The Chico Enterprise-Record. She was shortly thereafter married to her Chico neighbor, Jim W. Tackitt, on Jan. 27, 1957. She was a longtime administrator with the Cambridge Community Center in Concord. She was a past president and newsletter editor for the Diablo Sunrise Chapter, Soroptimist International; active for over 25 years in Christian Bible study groups and a leader in many Concord community projects. She became a Christian at an early age, first affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene in Chico. Surviving are her husband, Jim, a retired teacher with the Mt. Diablo Unified School District; two sons, James Jr. of Vacaville and Eric of Sacramento; three daughters, Heidi Baker of Clear Lake, Pamela Thornton of Concord and Karen Quinn of Antioch. Also surviving are eight grandchildren; two sisters, Bonnie Phillips of Woodland and Janet Godfrey of Stevensville, Mont.; two brothers, Thomas C. Van Gieson of Woodland and James G. Van Gieson of Paradise; several cousins, including a special cousin, Naomi Allspaugh Bonds of Chico. A Memorial Service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 1965 Colfax St. in Concord at 2 p.m. Sat., May 8th, with Chaplain Dan Wolke officiating. A reception at the church will follow hosted by Shirley's many friends from Community Bible Study. A private burial service will be held at Oakmont Memorial Park in Lafayette, Calif. Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Community Bible Study, 920 Vista del Diablo, Martinez, CA 94553, for use in the Children's Program and for scholarships.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Chico Enterprise-Record on May 4, 2004.

Memories and Condolences
for Shirley Tackitt

Sponsored by Shirley's husband, Jim W. Tackitt.

17 Entries

Eric Tackitt

March 2, 2023

Mom, I miss you. I know you are with Dad, Pamela, and your grandson James. I´ll be seeing all of you soon enough. Love, your son, Eric and family.

Shirley Van Gieson & Jim W. Tackitt taken Fall 1956 at Grenada, CA

March 7, 2005

Danny & Mary Tackitt

January 7, 2005

We met you only one time at your home in 1994 but knew right away you were a special person and Jim was a very lucky man. You blessed many.

Shirley Tackitt, my blue eyed beauty. I love you, Jim

July 16, 2004

Karen Tackitt/Quinn

July 9, 2004

Mom, I Love and Miss You So!

Even as you're not here in body to teach me how to be the woman I know I want to be, I've looked at things you've wrote throughout your life and see the path which led you to being the WONDERFUL woman you were/are and it makes me know that it's a path I too can travel. I could never express the great loss I feel without you or the vast amout of admiration I hold for you as a person, a wife, a friend, and my mother.

I Miss You So, So, So, So, So much!

Jim & Shirley Tackitt / At our 1st Apt. in Chico, CA / 31 Dec 1958

June 30, 2004

Shirley & Jim Tackitt, 1998

June 6, 2004

Shirley Van Gieson (on right) and her sister, Bonnie Van Gieson, 1939

June 6, 2004

Heidi Baker

May 17, 2004

Mother Dear,

God took a bit of Sunshine from out the Heaven's blue, He took a bit of all that's nice and wrapped it up in you! And than to make things perfect and fill my life with cheer, He gave me you to cherish as my own Mother Dear! I miss you mommy, Love Heidi

My beautiful wife, Shirley Emma Van Gieson Tackitt, 1937-2004

May 17, 2004

Heather Tackitt

May 10, 2004

Dearest Shirley, Your presence in our lives now extends beyond the visits we shared here on Earth into an everyday experience. Now, everyday when I look at a flower or a garden, I see you...everyday when the sun warms the earth, you are sharing God's love with us. I planted a new rose in your honor and everytime I see a new bud, I will know you helped create that beautiful flower. I have learned from your devotion to my dear brother. Your marriage was centered on sharing and giving to each other. It was apparent to all of us. I whispered to you that we will always be there for him and the children and for you not to worry too much. I will never break that promise to you. We are going to tell Dad that you are now with God but I think you have already touched him with that knowledge and are preparing him for the news. He began to ask about you and we will share with him the news very soon. He will be sad but we will assure him that you will be there to greet him, and all of us, in God's house of infinite love. You are loved and missed by so many. Heather.

joyce burnside

May 8, 2004

so sorry to hear of shirleys death. thinking of you and your family at this time

Pam Thornton

May 7, 2004

Hello Mother...

The many moments when my mind drifts to a time- a memory of you reassure me you are there. Your body may have left this Earth, but your spirit is strong.

Your spirt is felt to our souls.

Love, Pam

Alison Tackitt-Pratt

May 7, 2004

Shirley, it's Alison. I've cried tears of sadness for my brother Jim and the entire family because I know how much you were loved. I find peace knowing you suffer no more. I also shed tears when I ready Jim's message to you. It made me sneak into my children's bedrooms while they were sleeping and give them an extra kiss goodnight. You were loved and you were a loving and caring mother. I will never forget the "heart to heart" we had when I married Lloyd. I confided in you that I found it difficult to "just be a stay-at-home mom" and not earn a paycheck. You reminded me that I was doing the most important job in the world...a job you did so well. Thank you for making my brother's life complete.

You will be missed but forever remembered in our hearts.

Love, Alison.

Joanne Muench

May 5, 2004

My heartfelt condolences go out to Jim and his family. She always had her home open to Bob and me at any time but for sure every Friday so we could enjoy each other's company and support each other in our joys and sorrows of life. She was a great challenger in my favorite game of Scrabble and even though she didn't like to hold so many cards, she would play Canasta with me once in a while. She allowed Sue and me to work complicated puzzles and we also enjoyed doing Bible Study once in a while, watch TV shows of interest to the three of us. (Sue Mayoff, Shirley and me)She would prepare coffee and treats to satisfy all the sweet tooth addicts. She would invite us occasionally for a family barbecue where we were made to feel like a part of their immediate family. We worked together in the Children's Program with the 3 year olds and I got to see her cleverly tell the Bible Story to the children. She always talked so sweetly to them and encouraged them to do their best. At Leader's Council she contributed often to the discussion. She decorated her house for each season and always had fresh flowers on display that many times came from her own garden which she faithfully tended. In the summer she would share delicious apricots from her tree in the backyard. She gave home grown tomatoes anytime we wanted. Her house was always immaculate and I enjoyed the inspirational items she had displayed to show that God was a very important part of her life. I also loved seeing the family photos on display of her grandchildren throughout the house. A room was dedicated to the enjoyment of her grandkids. That same room had her computer which she also willingly shared. She introduced Veggie Tale Video Tapes to me so I started my own collection of them for my grandkids to learn wonderful Christian values. She welcomed my granddaughters whenever they were visiting from Italy. My daughter Michelle benefitted by her warmpth and kindness. She helped me through my periods of depression which happened more often than I care to admit. I truly felt unconditionally loved by Shirley who was the truest kind of friend one could ever have. I am happy she is experiencing her eternal reward that she so richly deserves. She was so brave to face a 7 hour surgery that only extended her life a few more weeks. But long enough to be able to see many of her friends, and most of her family before she left this earth to live forever in Heaven. I will once again see her when it is my turn to meet my Maker.

Love, Joanne Muench

Jim Tackitt

May 4, 2004

Shirley Love: I love & miss you more each day. How well you cared for me for 47 years and the love you gave to me and our five children was "a wonder to hehold."

"Children, look into those eyes, listen to the dear voice, notice the feeling of even a single touch that is bestowed upon you by that gentle hand . . .which none but mother bestows."

Jim, Dad, Grandpa

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