Genita S. Taken passed away peacefully on June 14, 2018. She was born on March 25, 1924 to Forrest and Bettie Smith in Marthaville, Louisiana. After graduating from Marthaville High School in 1941, she moved to Shreveport, Louisiana where she met and married her husband of 48 years, Hubert E. Taken.
After she married Hubert in 1944 in Shreveport, and just before he deployed for service in Europe during World War II, Genita moved to Chicago to live with her in-laws, Edward and Frances Taken. She devoted herself to raising her six children and engaging in volunteer activities in Chicago. After returning to Shreveport in 1971 with her husband and three youngest children, she worked for the Caddo Parish school system. Genita was a parishioner at St. Joseph Catholic Church and later at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans where she volunteered as a greeter. She also volunteered at Schumpert Medical Center for many years. Genita was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and a leader by example for her family. She was a strong, independent person who lived her life to the fullest in the way she wanted. She lived with grace and dignity and was always fashionably dressed. Genita was deeply loved by her family and will be greatly missed.
Genita was preceded in death by her husband, son Michael Taken, grandson James Taken and her sisters Esta Lee Forrest, Mearl Byles Giddings and Pearl Tate. She is survived by children Carol Anderson, Linda (Bob) Chasteler, Kathy (Murphy) Smith, Philip (Renee) Taken and Mark (Angela) Taken, by daughter-in-law Sue Taken and by 18 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be grandsons Alex Reyher, Jacob Smith, Max Taken, Nic Chasteler, Kyle Payne, and Dave Brower.
Visitation will be held on Friday, June 22 at 5:00pm followed by a Vigil Service at 6:00pm. The Funeral Service will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 23. Both services will at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, 939 Jordan Street, Shreveport, LA 71101.
