BEVERLY, MASS.
Sally (Hale) Taggart, 81, died Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018, in the Ledgewood Rehab. and Nursing Center, Beverly, of natural causes after suffering a long illness.
Born in Boston on June 29, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Rufus F. and Tacie Belle (Houston) Hale. Sally was a graduate of Shady Hill School, The Winsor School and attended Connecticut College. She spent the bulk of her adult life in Downeast Maine and the North Shore.
A vivacious beauty, Sally held a lifelong interest in interior and floral design, and she enjoyed her decades-long membership in the Garden Club of America and the Blue Hill Country Club. She was also a member of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, and she was proud of her ancestors, including Thomas Truxtun, one of the original six commanders appointed by President George Washington to lead the U.S. Navy, and Samuel Whitney Hale, governor of New Hampshire from 1883-1885.
Wherever she was, Sally pursued many volunteer activities and showed a true love of animals. When raising her family in Manchester, she devoted significant time and effort in helping her children’s school — including serving as a parent-teacher. After she relocated to Blue Hill, Sally became deeply involved with the local SPCA, Birdsacre-Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary and Four Town Nursing Service. Sally adored animals of all shapes and sizes and not only loved dogs, a cat and Romney sheep, but she also rescued bluebirds, a blue jay called Charlie and a mallard duck named Doozie.
Sally had an engaging personality, was an accomplished cook and entertained with graceful ease and a welcome charm. She enjoyed a hearty laugh and always served delicious fare at a lovely table with freshly cut flowers from her cherished garden. She was loved and will be missed.
Sally is survived by her three sons, Fred Sears of Waltham, Dan Sears and his wife, Robin, of Hamilton and Stephen Sears and his wife, Starr, of Washington, D.C.; five grandchildren, Daisy, George, William, Addison and Philip Sears; one sister, Barbara Clark and several nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by her brother, R. Houston Hale.
Her funeral services will be held privately at a later date. Expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to Birdsacre-Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary, 289 High St., Ellsworth, ME 04605 or the SPCA of Hancock County, 141 Bar Harbor Road, Trenton, ME 04605. Arrangements are under the direction of the Campbell Funeral Home, Beverly. Information and condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com.