Charlie crossed the Great Divide on January 29, 1996, after only a short bout with cancer.
Lamented and missed by anyone who ever knew him, he left behind literally thousands of friends, all of whom were touched by his wonderful wit and charm. Charlie, a world traveler, counted as his friends presidents and peasants, kings and kooks, seers and scoundrels.The youngest of nine children, he was born January 24, 1932 in Billings, Montana, to Lloyd and Louise Welch Taggart, and grew up in Cody, Wyoming.
Charlie was an original. His love for the west began as he spent many summers as a youth, working on the "Two Dot", the family ranch. It was there that he lost his right hand in a tragic accident when he was 16. For the rest of his life he wore a prosthesis and anybody meeting him was offered a big smile and the same greeting, "grab that hook there, Podner!" Children were fascinated by the man with the silver hook. Nobody ever forgot him.
He was a great character with a strong personality who shared himself and his resources generously with others. Charlie took pleasure in introducing couples to each other and was one of the paramount matchmakers on the planet. This resulted in hundreds of marriages and subsequently thousands of children, many of whom call him "Uncle Charlie". He was a most gracious host and was known for telling a story better than anyone. His exuberance and charming nature made him a fixture in Salt Lake City. He was active in the arts and university causes and helped raise money for a variety of programs including his alma mater, BYU.
As entrepreneur, businessman and rancher, he was as at home in London or New York as he was in his home mountains of Wyoming. He had an appreciation for people who were skilled at what they did regardless of their economic or social status. He was active in real estate, manufacturing, mining and publishing. One of his most famous endeavors was the development of Rocky Mountain Arms, where his engineers created several handguns that are now collectors' items. At the time of his death he was president and CEO of Intr-Sept, a company he developed to clean up industrial oil spills.
Charlie attended Cranbook Academy in Bloomfield, Hills, Mich., then the University of Wyoming and BYU. A member of the Ensign 1st Ward in Salt Lake City, he was active in the LDS church his entire life, often referred to his experiences as a missionary in Great Britain.
He is survived by eight siblings, Mrs. Quintin Blair (Ruth), Lloyd Taggart (Adele), J.M. (Mac) Taggart (widowed), Mrs. J.W. Watkins (Becky), Scott H. Taggart (LouCiel), Mrs. Philip Keif (Raye Rita) and many adoring nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at the Ensign 1st Ward, 371 East 9th Avenue, at 12 noon, Friday, February 2. A viewing will be held Thursday, February 1, at Larkin Mortuary, 7-9 p.m. He will be buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Cody.
His friends and family will miss him dearly. As Charlie said to us in his last good-byes, "See you on the other side, Friend!".
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