Geraldine D. "Gerry" Taggerty

Geraldine D. “Gerry” Taggerty, loving mother, grandma and great grandma

Portville- Geraldine D. “Gerry” Taggerty, 91, passed away, at home on May 29, 2024.  Gerry was born in Allegany, on June 21, 1932.  She was the daughter of the late George and Dora Putt Kyser.  She married Bernard Taggerty, who predeceased her on March 24, 2000.

Growing up, Gerry worked on their family farm, and later went to work for several local diners.  In 1969 she went to work for Portville Central School District driving school bus.  She drove for over 20 years taking a small break in the 1980s to care for her son Michael. Gerry also owned and operated a small cleaning business.  Her love for cooking and baking pies, led her to cater events for close friends and family.  All requesting one or more of her well-known dishes, many times it was her scalloped potatoes and her apple pies.

After she retired from her job at Portville Central School, she stayed active with her hobbies.  She was an avid reader of the local newspaper.  Gerry always looked forward to spring, so she could watch the flowers bloom and the birds return to the feeders.  During the warmer months she enjoyed gardening and maintaining her lawn.  In the winter she liked to plow snow.  She volunteered for local charities, cooking fundraising dinners at the Hinsdale American Legion and the Portville American Legion.  She was a life member of the Auxiliary.  She was very proud to be part of the organizing team when the Jonathon Teuscher Scholarship Fund was established.  Later in life, she enjoyed scratching lottery tickets, playing bingo, and going to ‘exercise her finger’ otherwise known as playing the slot machines.  She was always game to explore and check out the area’s casinos.  She loved to play a game of euchre with friends and family or rummy with her grandchildren.  If she could lend a hand, she would.

Gerry is survived by two daughters, Bernadette (Don) Nickerson, and Chris (Jim) Parks; her grandchildren Mark (Sara) Nickerson, Tom (Jenn) Parks, Beth Taggerty and William (Krystal) Nickerson; great grandchildren, Mason and Maddy Parks, and Philip and Anna Nickerson; and two brothers, Carl (Dee) Kyser and Ronnie (Carol) Kyser; several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Bernard; her mother and father, George and Dora; three children, Michael Fahrer, Maryanne Geralds and Eva Taggerty; three brothers, Buck Kyser, Hap Kyser, and Donnie Kyser; and three sisters, Marie Uplinger, Pete Stuckey, and Bobbie Perry.

Gerry’s family will receive friends for a Celebration of Life on Sunday, July 28, 2024 at the Westons Mills Fire Dept. Community Center from 1 to 4 p.m. A light luncheon will be provided, where great memories and stories can be shared.

Memorial donations may be made to the Portville Fire Department, or her daughters scholarship fund, the Eva M. Taggerty Memorial Scholarship, held by Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation or to a charity of your choice.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Guenther Funeral Home, Inc., 1303 E. State St, Olean.

Online condolences can be expressed www.guentherfh.com