TAFT,
Myrna Jean
(Maiden Name: Ledeboer)
Published in Today's News Herald on Apr. 29, 2020 -
Lake Havasu City, Arizona -
The sweetest warrior in the world, that description of Myrna Jean
Taft, 84, depicts the strong and gentle soul of a wife, mother,
grandmother, sister, and lifelong caregiver.
Myrna went to be with the Lord on April 17, 2020, after a 10-year
battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Myrna retained her nurturing, sweet
and witty personality throughout her long illness, and participated in
research studies to further the advancement of Alzheimer's treatment.
From the time she was a child, Myrna stood up for those who couldn't
defend themselves and spent her career (which lasted into her 70s)
advocating for the highest standards of health care.
Myrna was born on Oct. 25, 1935, in Prinsburg, Minnesota. The ninth of
11 children, she put herself through nursing school and received her
RN diploma from St. Francis School of Nursing in Breckenridge,
Minnesota. She received a master's in human resources management from
the University of Redlands, California. She held numerous nursing and
administrative positions in Minnesota, Montana, Arizona, California,
and Oregon, including director of nursing for Pinal General Hospital
in Florence and assistant administrator for Havasu Samaritan Regional
Hospital in Lake Havasu City.
Myrna married the love of her life, Ted Osborne Taft, on Nov. 20,
1956. Myrna, along with Ted, led a life of travel and adventure,
riding motorcycles, piloting small airplanes, waterskiing, operating
ham radios, running a small farm, and raising four daughters while
working full time. Ted preceded her in death on Sept. 2, 2019.
Myrna is survived by daughters Karalee Norris (Tom), Kimberly Ovitt
(Brian Johnson), Kelly Taft (Dave McPherson) and Kristen Calciano
(Nick), as well as nine grandchildren and 12 great- grandchildren.
Myrna also is survived by her siblings Theresa Samuels, Marion DeJong,
Dorothy Taft, Leroy Ledeboer, and Linda Winn. She is preceded in death
by her parents, Garritt and Adriana (Mary) Ledeboer, her siblings,
Evelina DeJong, Garritt Ledeboer Jr., Martin Ledeboer, Allen Ledeboer,
and Joyce Johnson.
Services are pending.