BRITTIE JEAN TALIAFERRO

BRITTIE JEAN LANSDOWNE TALIAFERRO

Matfield Green Dateline Brittie J. Taliaferro, age 92, died Wednesday, July 1, 2009, at Windsor Place in Iola, KS. A celebration of life service will be held Monday, July 6, 2009, at 10:00 A.M., at the Matfield Community Church in Matfield Green, KS. with The Rev. John Ratzlaff officiating. Burial will follow in the Southlawn Cemetery south of Severy, KS. Brittie Jean Lansdowne, the daughter of Marsden Lacon and Lucy Amelia "Minnie" Mather Lansdowne, was born July 10, 1916, in Wichita, KS. She graduated from Friends University of Kansas in Wichita with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1939. She and Howard Canon Taliaferro were married on November 27, 1940, in Wichita, KS. He preceded her in death May 6, 2001. They were both teachers and so they moved and taught several different places. She taught at Fall River near Severy and at Beaumont, KS. e preceded her in death onThey bought a farm and moved to Chase County in 1950 where she taught music at Matfield Green and Cassoday. She, also, taught music in Wichita, Milford, Walden, CO., Walsh, CO., and back to Chase County in 1965 where she taught at Matfield Green and Strong City. She taught more than 40 years before her retirement. When she was in Colorado, she was the lead woman in the opera "Madam Butterfly" at University of North Colorado in Greeley. She and her husband worked as camp hosts at the campgrounds in Seeley Lake, Montana, for three years and Swan Lake, Montana, for one year. She was a member of the Hillside Christian Church in Wichita and, later, the Matfield Community Church. She was a member of the Business and Professional Women. When she was at Friends University, she was a member of the Singing Quakers. She served as pianist and vocalist for many churches, directed and participated in countless musical programs, as well as teaching both vocal and instrumental music to all grades in various public schools. She is survived by a son, Howard N. Taliaferro of Strong City, three daughters, Jean Anderson of Iola, E. Audine Zuschek of Littleton, CO., and Marjorie Tenkula of Nolalu, Ontario, Canada; 14 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren; and four great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Carol in 1965; two sisters: Lucille Eisloeffel and Faith McClurg; and four brothers: Marsden, Douglas, Wendell, and Joe Lansdowne. The family will meet friends Sunday, from 6:00 until 7:30 P.M., at the Brown-Bennett-Alexander Funeral Home. Friends may call Sunday, from noon until 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home and Monday, from 9:00 until service time at the church. Memorial contributions to the Brittie Jean Taliaferro Memorial Music Scholarship at Chase County High School may be sent in care of the funeral home, 201 Cherry, Cottonwood Falls, KS. 66845. Messages to the family may be left at www.brown-bennett-alexander.com

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