Curtis Alfred Taggart Jr.

Curtis Alfred Taggart, Jr. (Tommy) went to be with Jesus on June 2, 2025 at the age of 94. He was born on December 7, 1930 in Cairo, Illinois. Curtis was raised near Marion, Missouri and later resided in Jefferson City, Missouri. He was a kind, quiet leader. He led by example in every part of his life-at home, at work, at church and with his friends and family.
Curtis served his country as a member of the United States Navy during the Korean War. He then worked briefly on a steamboat just as his dad and then pursued a degree in engineering at Missouri University. Curtis worked at the Missouri Highway Department as highway designer and eventually a field liaison. This is where he met his wife, Frances.
Curt and Frances were married in 1958, Kathy arrived on the scene in 1959 and Sara in 1961. Curtis loved his family and provided for them in every way possible-he provided a home, much love, taught about Jesus and lived as an example his daughters and grandchildren try daily to emulate.
Curtis loved the outdoors–hunting, fishing, finding mushrooms, gardening. He was quite a collector-antique glassware, decoy ducks, miniature lamps, Zane Grey books. Curt and Frances enjoyed traveling-Austria, New York, Alaska, Canada, Switzerland. They took their daughters on family trips growing up and then made sure they planned family trips and gatherings for the extended family as often as possible.
Curtis served as a deacon and Sunday School director at First Baptist Church in Jefferson City. Serving his church was deeply important and Curt and Frances found many ways to do that together. After retirement, he made it a point to gather every Thursday with some coffee buddies from work for breakfast-a different place each week.
Curtis is preceded in death by his loving wife, Frances, Curtis and Bernice Taggart (father and mother), Kelly Taggart (brother), John Taggart (brother), and Ronald Taggart (brother).
Curtis is survived by Kathy Arnold, daughter and Mick Arnold, Sara Wilson, daughter and Jeff Wilson, Brian and Katie Parrish, granddaughter, Chris and Ashley Boschen, granddaughter, Josh, grandson and Cherish Wilson, Chris, grandson and Amanda Wilson, Keith Taggart, brother and Jan, Jenice Taggart, sister in law, Harlan Taggart, sister in law,12 great grandchildren: Kharis Parrish, Benny Parrish, Henry Boschen, Tucker Boschen, Joshua Boschen, Jackson Stockstill, Seth Wilson, Sutton Wilson, Sawyer Wilson, Shepherd Wilson, Felix Wilson, and Eden Wilson, and many nieces and nephews.
We invite all who knew Curtis to join us in remembering him through stories and laughter. Visitation will be at Trimble Funeral Home in Russellville, Missouri from 9-10:30 am on June 19, 2025 with a service to follow at 10:30. Graveside services will proceed at Enloe Cemetery in Russellville, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested donations be made to Storyline Church, where Joshua Wilson is pastor or Covenant Baptist Church, where Brian is pastor.