J Mark Taggart

Mr. Taggart lived in various Nebraska towns moving to Denver in 1939. He spent two years in the Army during and after World War II. Mark then attended the University of Colorado, graduating in 1949 at which time he entered the insurance business with the Insurance Company of North America in Denver.

In 1956 Mr. Taggart joined Burger Brothers, a local Boulder real estate, insurance and loan agency. In 1966 the insurance business split off from the real estate and loan division and later became Taggart & Associates, Inc., an independent insurance agency.

Mr. Taggart served on the Board of Norwest Bank, Boulder. He also served as President of the Independent Insurance Agents of Colorado, and was a board member of the Boulder Chamber of Commerce as well as the Boulder Country Club. Mr. Taggart was an avid outdoorsman and sports enthusiast. He was a six time Colorado Water Ski Champion, and the first person to barefoot water ski west of the Mississippi. He was also a Winter Park Ski Patrol Volunteer. As an avid mountain climber he climbed all 54 of Colorado’s 14,000 foot peaks at least twice. He also made the first assent of the Maiden, a rock formation between Boulder and Eldorado Springs. Mr. Taggart most enjoyed helicopter powder skiing in Canada with his wife Becky. In total he skied over nine million vertical feet. Mr. Taggart married Becky Knudsen Holleran in 1958. He is survived by his four sons and their families, all living in Colorado.

A private memorial service will be held by the family. Memorial contributions may be made to TRU Community Care, 2594 Trailridge Drive East Lafayette, CO 80026 www.trucare.org, or Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, 3720 Walnut St., Boulder, CO 80301, www.rockymountainrescue.org . Share memories and condolences at www.cristmortuary.com.