Mary Davis Taffer - Owensby

Mary Davis Taffer, age 93, went to be with the Lord on February 15, 2018. She was born in Pryor, Oklahoma, August 31, 1924. She was preceded in death by her father James Newton Davis, her mother Flora Ida Davis, her first husband Edward Bruce Taffer, her second husband Basil Owensby and 10 older brothers and sisters. She was of the Baptist Faith and was a member of First Baptist Church of Wilkliffe, KY. Following graduation from high school, she joined the Army Air Force (member of the Women's Army Corps or WAC which were the first women other than nurses to serve in the US Army) and served her country as a control tower operator during WWII. She met and married Ed in 1955 in the Greensville, SC area, and they moved to Wickliffe, KY in 1968 as Ed was instrumental in the initial start-up and operation of the Westvaco Paper Mill at Wickliffe. Ed and Mary resided in Wickliffe on County Farm Road for over 30 years and had numerous friends in the county. After Ed's passing, she was contacted by Basil (whom she dated prior to meeting Ed) who had never married and they wed in 1997. Mary and Basil resided in Palm Bay, Florida and Springfield, Tennessee.

Mary loved participating in and watching sports. She loved playing golf as a member of the Ballard County Country Club and played various sports during her youth. She was an avid UK Basketball fan and a Dallas Cowboys fan during the Tom Landry years. She was a volunteer for various church functions, precinct election officer, and activities associated with the Ballard County School System (all three of her children attended elementary/high school in Ballard County). Mary loved her immediate and extended families (she was very close to her brothers and sister) and always looked forward to family gatherings and reunions, attending as many as possible.

She is survived by one daughter, Janis Taffer Wilks (Tom) of Springfield, TN, and two sons Bruce Taffer (Debbie) of Kevil, KY and Jim Taffer (Jan) of Merritt Island, FL. She had 6 grandchildren, Kylie, Lauren, and Luke Taffer of Merritt Island, FL and Brad, Ross, and Alec Wilks of Springfield, TN.

Grave side service to be held Saturday. March 10th at 11:00 AM at Wickliffe Cemetery located at 28833 Euclid Avenue, Wickliffe, KY. Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to Wickliffe Baptist Church.