Tara Marie Quigley

Tara Marie Quigley passed away on July 11, 2012 after a difficult thirteen month battle with colon cancer. Tara is survived by her mother Jan Quigley, her father Joseph Valentine Quigley, sister Karen Quigley Micciulla of New York City, brother Joseph Shaun Quigley of Houston, sister Kathleen Quigley Klein of Boston, sister Beth Quigley Benefield of Houston, sister Molly Ann Quigley of Houston, her husband of twenty-three years Shaw Cranfield, her beloved children Ryan Cecile Cranfield, Aaron Jan Cranfield, Julian Laver Cranfield and many nieces and nephews.

Tara was born in Indianapolis Indiana on July 22, 1960. Tara's family moved to Houston in 1975 after living in several cities in the Northeast. Tara graduated from Memorial Senior High School in 1978 and The University of Texas at Austin in 1982 with a B.A. in English.

After college Tara returned to Houston and began a career in the floral business. She managed several different flower shops and opened her own business in 1985. In the beginning, Tara's tiny one bedroom apartment was her shop, her refrigerator was the flower cooler and her old unairconditioned VW Bug was her delivery vehicle. Without the benefit of a start up loan and very little capital Tara Quigley Florist became one of the best and most successful floral businesses in Houston over the next thirty plus years. Tara's uncanny combination of artistic talent, business acumen, excellent people skills and hard work created a long list of happy and satisfied brides and clients.

Tara was a great daughter, a loving sister, a wonderful wife and a fantastic mother. She always tried to help people in need, whether it was a family member or a person she barely knew. It was her ability to let the love and kindness within her flow into others that made Tara so special and remarkable. God bless you Tara. We love you.

A Funeral Mass will be held for Tara at St. Cecila Catholic Church,

11720 Joan of Arc, Houston, TX 77024, on Wednesday July 18 at 10:30 am. The Most Reverend Bishop Vincent Rizzotto celebrant will say Mass.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Houston Hospice, 1905 Holcombe Blvd. Houston, TX 77030 or please go to Houstonhospice.org.