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James French Taggart, 87, Born January 29, 1921. Died November 10, 2008.
James was born in the Clinton Community. His parents were G.C. Taggart and Pearlie Adeline Nelley. The youngest of seven children, he was the last survivor.
James attended Salem Common School and graduated from Greenville High School in May, 1938. He became an honor graduate at Southwestern School of Banking at SMU in 1965.
Billie L. McWhirter of Commerce, Texas became his bride at a high noon wedding in the First Methodist Church in Atoka, Oklahoma on June 3, 1941. The Taggarts joined Wesley Methodist Church in Greenville in July, 1941. After an approximately thirteen year absense from Greenville, they again joined Wesley Methodist Church where they remained until their deaths.
He is survived by his son, James F. Taggart II and wife Betsy Curtis Taggart of Mount Vernon, their children, Michelle Taggart High of Round Rock and Julia Elizabeth Taggart Fowler of Paris; his son, William Edward Taggart and wife Annette Murphy Taggart and their children, James Douglas Taggart and Mary Murphy Taggart of Commerce; and a daughter, Mary Mac Taggart McHam and husband David A. McHam of Garland and their children, Kelley McHam Carlisle and David Allen McHam, Jr. of Plano. Honorary son is James F. Wood and Neva Wood of Rockwall. Great Grandchildren are Reagan, Bailey, Spencer and Caroline High and John McHam Carlisle. He has beloved nieces and nephews.
Mr. Taggart spent sixty years in banking, fulfilling his ambition to serve as the President of a sizeable bank. This career began in January 1939 in the Greenville National Exchange Bank as a file clerk in the Bookkeeping Department. He rose to teller, loan officer and then Assistant Vice-President and Trust Officer as the bank changed to First Greenville National Bank in 1962. In 1965 he became CEO of Hondo national Bank in Hondo, Texas where he served until 1968, when he returned to Hunt County as first Vice-President of the First National Bank in Commerce then in 1969 he was named President and CEO. In 1977 he returned to First Greenville National Bank as President and CEO fulfilling his ambition. After his retirement at age 65, he had associations with Colonial and Benchmark banks until 2002.
Both of his sons became bankers.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the good works at Wesley United Methodist Church are appreciated.
Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 11 am at Wesley United Methodist Church in Greenville, TX. Arrangments by Coker-Mathews Funeral Home