Jay Taggart

WASHINGTON TERRACE - Jay Bryant Taggart, 88, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday December 6, 2016 in South Ogden, Utah.

He was born May 21, 1928 in Ogden Utah to Cordon Jay and Myrtle Stratford Taggart.  He graduated from Pocatello High School in 1946, was a graduate of the University of Utah with a B.S in Social Studies, earned a M.A. in Humanities at Northwestern University, a M.S. in School Administration from Utah State University and Honorary Doctorates from Weber State and Southern Utah Universities.

He served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in Sendai, Japan and served a mission in France for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He married Nadine Carver on June 11, 1952 in the Logan L.D.S. Temple. They were blessed with nine children and made their home and raised their children in Washington Terrace, South Ogden and Morgan, Utah. Nadine passed away Jan. 17, 2004.

Jay was an educator: working as a teacher and principal of Bonneville High School, Superintendent of the Morgan County and Weber County School Districts, State Superintendent of Schools, Education Deputy for Governor Leavitt and a Member of the Board of Regents.

He served in many capacities in the L.D.S. Church, including Stake President of the Morgan and Washington Terrace Stakes. His true love was teaching Gospel Doctrine.

He married Annette Cook on November 11, 2012. They were sealed in the Brigham City Temple on November 14, 2013.

He is survived by his wife Annette, and his children:  Bryce (Donnell) Taggart, Mark (Michelle) Taggart, Jan (Alan) Stevenson, Diana (Mike) Mangum, Bonnie (Robert) Kennington, Jim Taggart, Scott (Angie) Taggart, Blaine (Nicole) Taggart, 17 grandchildren, six great grandchildren, nephews and nieces, and a brother Blaine (Susanna) Taggart.

He is also survived by Annette’s children: Doug (Julie) Stephens, Jeff (Leila) Stephens, Noralie (Blake) Larkin, and Jennifer (Chris) Clarke; 19 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Nadine, daughter and son-in-law Nancy and Rod Marrelli, grandson Greg Taggart, his parents and brother Albert Taggart.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 11 a.m. at the Washington Terrace 8th Ward Chapel, 350 W. 5100 S., Washington Terrace, Utah.  Friends may visit family Friday from 6 to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. at the church.

Interment will be in the South Morgan Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Weber County School District Foundation at foundation.wsd.net and Morgan Education Foundation at morganeducationfoundation.org.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.walker-mortuary.com