Timothy Earl Taber, Jr.

Timothy Earl Taber, Jr., known as Earl, and in his early years as Junior, passed from this life on April 27, 2020.  He was known for his warm heart, work ethic, sense of humor and humility.  He also had a love of sports, especially anything Sooner, and a strong Christian faith.  He had a good long life and saw many events and changes in the world, and took part in some.  His life touched many others, and they thought themselves better for it.

Timothy Earl Taber, Jr. was born to Jennie Cecil Taber (nee Dean) and Timothy Ebon Taber on August 31, 1923, in or near Prague, Oklahoma, the second of three sons.  He grew up during the Great Depression helping tend the successful family farm in Econtuchka, between Prague and Shawnee.  He was schooled in the area, and graduated from Centerview High School.  During World War II, Earl served in the U.S. Army in the European theater and en route was aboard the troop ship J.W. McAndrew when it was struck by another ship, causing loss of life of many soldiers and sailors.  After the war, Earl settled in Norman with his wife Donnie Lee Taber (nee Moreu), where they raised three sons.  He worked at the OU Power Plant until his retirement in 1984.

Earl was married to Donnie until her death June 16, 1985, and was married to Peggy Yvonne (Bonnie) Snyder (nee Cash) until her death March 30, 2012. 

Earl attended Northwest (now Berry Road) Baptist Church in Norman, Memorial Road Church of Christ in Edmond, and most recently Westside Church of Christ in Norman.  

Family vacations were spent fishing, usually at Greenleaf Lake, Texhoma, Eufaula or any muddy river.  Earl was an expert on keeping reels operable, in tying flies, and in making lures, which he shared with family and friends.  Tales of big fish and big snakes are mostly without photographic confirmation.

Earl was always a sports fan, especially the Sooners, and sometimes OSU, since there were some Cowboys in the family also.  He had season tickets to OU football and basketball for many years, and also enjoyed women’s basketball and softball, along with the Golf Channel.  He sometimes helped coach his sons and their friends in summer baseball, hitting flies and playing catch.  He had a perfect knuckleball. 

After his retirement, Earl became interested in genealogy and traced descendants from his paternal grandfather and his siblings.  He found numerous cousins in the western United States, and he and Bonnie traveled to look up and get to know many of them.  His hand-written pages of those trees and branches are a family treasure.  

Earl also enjoyed watching his grandkids grow and start families and was proud of their accomplishments.  In recent years, he especially enjoyed seeing his great-grandkids at noisy family get-togethers.

Earl is survived by his brother Kenneth, Piedmont, OK; his three sons and two daughters-in-law, Betty and Tim Taber, Ardmore, Kathy and Warren Taber, Norman, and Greg Taber, Edmond; four grandchildren and their spouses, Jennifer and Grant Taber, Dallas, Amber and David Wooten, Yakima, WA, Katherine and Todd Taber, Keller, TX, Jeanine and Aaron Taber, Ardmore; eleven grandchildren; second wife Bonnie’s children and their spouses, Pebble and John Tedford, Sholo, AZ and Pauli and Tim Snyder, Liberty Lake, WA; and nieces and nephews, Gary Taber, Oklahoma City; Linda Livingston, Norman; Susan and Percy Moreu, Noble; Wanda and James Stufflebean, Noble; Maxine Edwards, Noble; Sandra Elizabeth and Billy Jewell, Piedmont; Phil Taber, Shawnee; and numerous other cousins, relations and their descendants.  

The family wishes to thank the staffs of Norman Regional Hospital, Arbor House, Home Instead, church friend Carolyn Deatherage, and Dr. Paul Plusquellec, for their care.

Visitation will be held from 1:00-4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, at Havenbrook Funeral Home in Norman.  A private graveside service will be held.  A Celebration of Earl’s Life will be held at a later date when it is safe for family and friends to gather together again.

In lieu of flowers, friends and family may donate to Edmond Memorial Church of Christ, Westside Church of Christ Norman, the American Cancer Society, or another worthy charity of your choice. 

(And Jesus said)  “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  John 10:10b