Janet was born on Oct. 7, 1946 to Charles and Chloe Coon in Ottumwa, IA. At the age of four, she was stricken with Toxic Encephalitis. Due to the efforts of her maternal grandfather, Dr. Frank N. Bay, she survived the disease but was left with limited use of her legs for the rest of her life. She grew up in Iowa, living in the towns of Albia, Lovilia, Oskaloosa and Estherville. Her family moved back to Albia in 1963 when her father bought an insurance agency there. She attended Albia Community High School for her last two years, graduating in 1965. Janet attended college for two years at Northwest Missouri State College in Maryville, MO, and Iowa State University in Ames, IA. After leaving school she took a job at Look Magazine in Des Moines. Janet moved back to Albia in 1968 to work as a receptionist for a local doctor.
In 1969 Janet married her former AHS class mate, Tom Taggart. When her first son, Tom Jr. was born in 1970 she became a stay at home mom. Her second son, Charles, was born in 1973. She wanted more children but physical limitations kept her from doing so. During her early life as a wife and mother Janet lived in Albia, Lamoni, and Ottumwa, IA.
When her husband re-enlisted in the U.S. Army Janet followed him around the world to several duty stations including Ft. Gordon, GA, Okinawa Japan, The Republic of Panama, Ft. Dix, NJ, and finally to the Washington D.C. area where they eventually purchased a house in Woodbridge, VA. Janet’s only granddaughter, Celeste, was born in 1996 to her son Tom Jr.
After her husband retired from active military duty and with her sons grown and on their own, she returned to the work force as a customer service representative for Northern Virginia Electric Co-Op. She worked there until 2004 when health issues force her to retire.
In 2005, her first grandson, Connor, was born to her son Charles. Her second grandson, Sean, was born in 2008, also to her son Charles.
In 2007 Janet and her husband purchased a condo in the Heritage Hunt Community and they moved to Gainesville, VA. There she was a member of the Heritage Hunt Little Theater group. She also enjoyed playing cards and attending social events with her friends.
She enjoyed sewing, reading, and playing games on her iPad. She loved animals, especially her cats. She was a former member of the Order of the Eastern Star, was a Civil War re-enactor and enjoyed sailing and vacationing with her husband.
Janet is survived by her husband of 47 years, Tom Taggart of Gainesville, VA, two sons, Tom Taggart Jr. of San Antonio, TX, and Charles Taggart of Front Royal, VA. Two daughters-in-law, Suzanne Taggart of San Antonio, TX, and Samantha Taggart of Front Royal, VA, and three grandchildren, Celeste Taggart of San Antonio, TX, Connor Taggart and Sean Taggart, both of Front Royal, VA.
She will be missed by family and friends but will always have a special place in our hearts as a strong, generous and loving wife, mother and friend.
Instead of sending flowers, friends and family are encouraged to make donations in her name to one of her favorite charities, The Alzheimer’s Association. Donations can be given by visiting www.alz.org/give, or by calling 800-272-3900.

Among the many wonderful things she leaves behind for us is one of her favorite quotes.

“If ever there is a tomorrow when we’re not together…there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart…I’ll always be with you…”
Winnie the Pooh

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