She attended elementary school in Silver Plume and was graduated from Georgetown High School as valedictorian of her class in 1945. Shirley met her future husband, Carl J. Taussig, while working at the Grand County Courthouse in Hot Sulphur Springs, Colo. She married Carl on Oct. 12, 1947, near Parshall, Colo., at the Taussig family ranch. They were married for almost 33 years.
The first 17 years of their marriage were spent ranching. As a typical rancher’s wife, she not only worked outside with her husband, but took care of the home as well. Their first child, Carolyn Rita (Taussig) LeFevre, was born on Aug. 20, 1948. Two years later, their second child, Ronald Carl Taussig was born on June 19, 1950.The family moved to Meeker on Jan. 1, 1962 onto the K-T Ranch a few miles upriver.
Several years later ,she began working at Meeker Elementary School as a teacher’s aide. She thoroughly enjoyed working with young children who often told her family secrets about their parent’s activities. One young student proudly told how his father killed a deer… out of season, of course. After the death of her husband Carl in 1979, she began working at Watt’s Ranch Market as a bookkeeper. She worked there until she retired.
She had many talents and hobbies. Being raised in the high mountains she enjoyed hiking, skiing and ice skating. She was an excellent seamstress, making not only her own clothing but dresses for her daughter and granddaughters. Her family and friends always looked forward to the wonderful treats she would make, which included fudge, divinity, and spritz cookies. Shirley loved music and enjoyed playing the piano. She had a love for wildlife, but especially for her birds.
She was an avid sports fan with a special love for baseball — the Colorado Rockies, and football – the Denver Broncos. Shirley had a strong opinion about her favorite teams and the umpires and referees.
Besides her family, the most important thing in her life was her faith and love for Jehovah God. She loved reading and studying the Bible and was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on Oct. 7, 1961. She served Jehovah faithfully until her death. She believed in the Bible’s promise of everlasting life on a paradise earth (Psalms 37:29; Rev. 21:3, 4) and felt it very important to share that hope with everyone.
Shirley is survived by: her daughter, Carolyn Rita LeFevre (Daryl) of Cody, Wyo., and son, Ronald Carl Taussig (Phyllis) of Meeker; her grandchildren: Tuesday Gideon (Ken), Ronda Morgan (Jeff), Carl Taussig, Rebekah Alvarado, Tony LeFevre (Sara), David Taussig (Aubrey); and her great-grandchildren: Felicia McPhail (Joe), Kyan Watland-Gideon, Terren Gideon, Bailey, Sabrina, and Zoe Alvarado, Dominic and Isaac LeFevre, and Elleana Taussig. Also surviving are many other family members who loved her dearly.
She was preceded in death by: her husband Carl J. Taussig; her parents Dave and Mable Williams; her brothers Jim, Tuck, and Lanny Williams; and her granddaughters Lisa LeFevre and Shannon Taussig.
We all look forward to seeing her again in the resurrection. (Job 14:15)
Services were held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Meeker, Colo., on Monday, Aug. 25, 2014, with internment at Highland Cemetery. Services were under the direction of the Park Avenue Mortuary.
