Donald Albert Taber, age 74, left this earth to be with his Lord and Savior on May 17, 2014. He is now free from pain and limitations after many years of debilitating illness.
Mr. Taber was born on March 24, 1940, in Middleton, Idaho to Albert Russell and Estella May Head Taber. He was the youngest of eight children.
He married Christine Louise Anderson on February 19, 1972 in Bellflower, Calif. They were married forty- two years. They had three daughters; Jane Marie Spurlock and husband Eric, of Woodland, Calif., Lora Marlaine Taber and partner Michelle Tucker, of Sacramento, Calif., and Lana Marie Grove and husband Jason of Lawrence, Kansas.
Don served in the Marine Corps from 1958 to 1962. He was a long haul trucker for over forty years, hauling many cars, and ended retiring from Walmart Transportation in Ottawa, Kansas in 2011.
Mr. Taber loved his Lord, his family, his job, and the Marines, in that order. He was a good and wonderful man.
Don was a great husband and father. He wasn’t the huggy- kissy type, but showed his love in the way he knew how; in his actions.
Donald never met a person he did not like, no matter what. He used to mow several yards in our neighborhood, and loved the winter when he could hook up his snow blade and run around plowing the neighbor’s driveways and sidewalks.
Don and Chris used to play dominoes several times a week at the Hyvee cafeterias for years. (Chris was mostly the winner).
He is survived by his wife, Christine, of the home, his three daughters, and five grandchildren; Madelyn, Riley, Steven, Quincy, and Stella, all of whom he loved dearly. He also leaves his remaining sister, Ardith Penner, of Florida, and a host of nieces and nephews. Don was predeceased by his parents, and six brothers and sisters; Bob, Leonard, Margie, Doris, Dorothy, and Hazel. He also leaves his little dog, Daisy, and his big cat, John.
We loved Don a lot, and miss him like crazy.
Memorial service will be held at Lawrence Free Methodist Church on June 16 at 1:30 PM. Don loved pie above all other foods, and would have enjoyed seeing everyone eating pie and drinking coffee in his honor after the service.
The family suggests memorials to the Lawrence Humane Society, or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, sent in care of Rumsey- Yost Funeral Home.
