Jean M Tag's Obituary
Jean Esther Mutch Tag passed away at home on Dec. 11, 2012, at the age of 90. She was a strong, courageous, generous, loving, gracious woman. Always affirmative and positive even in the face of many hardships. She was a true hero to her family and friends. As a young woman, Jean worked as a librarian. She married her beloved husband Ray Tag in 1943, while he was in officer training for the Air Force. He was deployed to Europe as a bomber pilot, who was shot down and missing in action when their first daughter was born on Jean's birthday, December 1944. She never lost faith in his return and was rewarded with another 25 years of marriage and five more daughters before his untimely death. Jean raised seven daughters, took in countless foster children, completed an RN degree in her fifties and worked for 12 years in pediatric nursing at St. Francis Hospital before retirement. A great lover of opera and ballet, she enjoyed being a volunteer seamstress for the Tulsa Ballet. She also became a volunteer for Small Paws Rescue and cared for many dogs. A member of Asbury Methodist Church, she played in the bell choir. Jean loved her home and her Wednesday night family dinners became a tradition during the last years of her life. 'Family' included anyone who wanted to come. One of Jean's best friends was her long time neighbor, Dorothy Slaughter. Jean loved to cook, especially Asian food and recipes from her Jacques and Julia (Child) cookbook. She also studied about purple martins and put up a martin house for them in her yard. Each year she tracked their progress, knew their songs and took great pleasure in their arrival each spring. Although the summer of 2012 proved to be too hot for the most part, one of her greatest pleasures was sitting on her back porch and she never failed to thank her son-in-law, Paul Green, for building it for her. She is deeply loved and will be missed by her large family, all of whom have been close to her always: Preceded in death by her husband Raymond E. Tag and infant daughter Jean Esther Tag 7 Daughters and 5 sons-in-law Barbara Weaver Smith and husband Lawrence Smith Linda Wise Karen Quin and husband Walter Quin Valerie Bonebrake and husband Bob K. Bonebrake Gail Haldane Mary Green and husband Paul Green Judith Lynne Bates and husband Brent Bates 13 Grandchildren (Brad, Ray, Jay, Jeff, Bud, Aaron, Robby, Alana, Micah, Jordan, Kyle, Devin, and Vincent) 20 Great Grandchildren (Megan, Mari, Ricky, Richelle, Hayden, Casey, Erica, Grant, Chance, Noah, Nathan, Aliyah, Ciel, Micah, Brooklyn, Devin, Abby, Jackson, Julie, and JoJo) 1 Great Great Granddaughter (Grace)
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