Esther May Taggett
August 28, 1890-August 1, 1966
The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, August 2, 1927, page 2 col. 5
Ex-Sumnerville Teacher Is Dead
Mrs. Esther May Taggett, 75, organist for the past 20 years of St. John's United Church of Christ, died at 2:20 p.m. , Monday in Pawating Hospital, where she had been a patient nine days following a two-week illness. Mrs. Taggett, who resided at 502 N. 13th St., was born Aug. 28, 1980, in Oconomowoc, Wis., and came to Niles from Petoskey in 1921.
A 1910 graduate of the University of Chicago who studied at Oxford, she services as a public high school teacher in Walkerton, Ind., and Elmhurst, Ill., where she also served as principal.
A student of music with Leo Sowerby and J. Louis Browne, she gave private organ and piano lessons here.
She was married to Vernon N. Taggett June 14, 1913, in Chicago. He died Nov. 10, 1960.
Mr. Taggett was a fromer [sic] Niles city engineer.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Paul Raker, Flint; a son, Paul, Syracuse, N.Y.; and five grandchildren.
In addition to her membership in the First Presbyterian Church, she was member of the American Guild of Organists; the National Guild of Piano Teachers; the American Association of University Women; and the Michigan Music Teachers Association.
Also, the Order of Eastern Star; the Niles Musical Club; the Monday Reading Club; and the Women's Christian Temperance Union.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday in her church. The Rev. John P. MacLachlan, pastor, will officiate.
Entombment will be in the Silverbrook Cemetery mausoleum.
Friends will be received at the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home after 7 p.m., today