Helen Hovey Taliaferro

Helen Virginia Hovey Taliaferro, age 96, Prairie Village, KS, died January 7, 2022 at Claridge Court. Memorial services will be held June 9th, 2022 at 1 pm in the main Sanctuary of Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208.

Helen, wife of H. Monroe Taliaferro, was a native Kansas Citian. She graduated from Southwest High School and gathered regularly with her Southwest friends until 2020. She attended Kansas University where she was a proud member of Delta Gamma Fraternity. She continued to be active with the Kansas City Delta Gammas who recognized her with their national Awards: the Loyalty Award, the Oxford Award, the Cable Award, and several local awards: the Cream Rose Award, the Pebble Award, the Spirit Award. Helen worked at Safety Federal Savings 1945 – 1952. She joined Village Presbyterian Church in 1954. There she served in the capacities of Deacon, Shephard Deacon, Elder, Stephen Minister, a vacation bible school director, a board member and circle member of Presbyterian Women, Sunday school teacher, coordinator of Mission Sewing for 23 years, and received the Presbyterian Women’s “Woman of the Faith Award” in 2004.

Helen was the ultimate gracious hostess. She would always prefer to be the hostess rather than the guest. She put on a lovely dinner party. She was ever eager to try a new recipe, especially if it included chocolate. Helen helped to edit and test recipes for 2 volumes of a fundraiser cookbook “A Taste of Kansas City” for the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired (CCVI). She swung a winning tennis racket into her 70’s. She was an avid Master Gardener and her gorgeous tea rose garden, her pride and joy, was on the Wellsley Garden Tour. Helen made sure to write a timely note of gratitude for every act of kindness and hospitality to which she was treated.

Helen’s giving heart was witnessed through more than 7,000 volunteer hours dedicated to Mission Sewing projects produced for local hospitals and charitable organizations. Her generosity to Mission Sewing continued through her 95th year! In addition to Village Church, Helen started a sewing group at Claridge Court when she moved there. Sewing projects whirred through her sewing machine – from doll clothes to her own clothes to her children’s clothes to clothes for needy school children. Needlepoint, knitting, crocheting, embroidering were also hobbies she enjoyed and shared abundantly.

She was preceded in death by her father in 1943, her mother in 1987, both of her sisters and her loving husband of 72 years who predeceased her by eleven weeks. Survivors: Jan and LaMonte Roach of Prairie Village, Jo Taliaferro and Chris Bell of Pittsboro, NC, Nancy and Marc Cantril of Prairie Village, five adored grandchildren: Taylor Cantril, Scott and Emma Cantril, Grace Cantril, Elizabeth and Denis Jimenez, Phillip and Kylie Roach, four great grandsons and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her brother in law, Dr. Jack Vinson.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given to Village Presbyterian Church 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208 or Alphapointe 7501 Prospect Ave, Kansas City, MO 64132.