Lenore Taliaferro died August 5, 2010 at her home in Helena, Montana.
Lenore was born December 4, 1935 in Joliet, Illinois to Frank Renner and Frances Donahue Renner. She attended Joliet Township High School. She received a B.S. in Education from Illinois State University in 1957 and a Master’s in Public Administration from the Political Science Department at the University of Kansas in 1977.
She married J. Dale Taliaferro October 23, 1976. He survives of the home.
She is also survived by daughter Laura Kathryn Findlay Hagen and her husband Jeffrey Hagen and children Leif, Sophia, and Finn; stepdaughter Sara L.
Taliaferro and her husband Mark Jakubauskas and daughters Cecelia and Allison; and stepson Bradford B. Taliaferro and wife Birdena Taliaferro and son Isaac and daughter Lisa Gaut. She is also survived by Nora Renner, sister-in-law and many nieces and nephews.
Lenore was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Franklin Renner, and her beloved son Paul Findlay.
Lenore had a career of advocacy and compassion for people of all ages. She worked for many non-profit organizations in Lawrence, KS as well as in Helena.
She supported and advocated for low-income youth, held positions as Coordinator of Department of Human Resources, Director of Volunteer Services as a social worker, Director of the Independent Living Project that supported physically disabled, Ombudsman with SRS, Community Services Division for the State of Montana, Family Abuse Specialist, Project Director of First Steps Programs on the Helena Council for Prevention of Child Abuse, and was later a private consultant on abuse and child/elder issues.
Lenore received numerous awards for her lifelong efforts of advocacy including Kansas Outstanding Woman of the Year in 1979, Outstanding Member of Montana Gerontology Society in 2002 and Advocacy Award for Montana Long Term Care Ombudsman in 2005. She also served in numerous capacities as a volunteer, specifically for the Florence Crittenton Home and many other agencies in the Helena area.
Lenore was a unique woman with many facets. She loved her family, friends, fashion design and hand knit sweaters, reading, hiking and camping, dance, music and theatre, modeling, humor, photography, travel, creative writing and particularly enjoyed doing only what she wanted to do. She was greatly loved and admired and will be missed for her generous, creative and free spirit.
Memorials can be addressed to Florence Crittenton Home, 901 N. Harris, Helena, MT 59601 and Friendship Center, 1430 N. Sanders St., Helena, MT 59601.
Service Schedule
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Laura Findlay Hagen says
It is with heartfelt thanks for your acknowledgment of my Mom and what a very special person she was. Memories have been flooding me and I’m finding peace in them. I will miss her so much and mostly for my children. I lost my Grandma Renner (my Mom’s Mom) when I was 14, the age Sophia is now. I still think of my Grandma Renner all of the time and feel her essence near me. I can only hope and pray that my children feel my Mom’s love, embrace and protection for the rest of their lives. I love you Mom. I miss you…yet I’ll see you in my dreams! P.S. Finn wrote a letter to Grandfather Dale today…”Dear Grandpa Dale, Grandma Nore is in heaven with Abraham Lincoln. Love, Finn”
John Williams says
It’s taken several days to be able to collect my thought; thus the belated scribble. I know how much I will miss the enjoyable banter and quick smile that I’ll always associate with my all-too-brief annual visits and occasional phone conversations with Lenore. I can only imagine how those of you who saw and or spoke with her almost daily feel. All my sympathies to all of you.
Linda Findlay Love says
I will miss Lenore very much. When I was a young girl (about 14 or 15) she was the one that my cousin, Deborah, looked up to as “the one who knew what to wear”.
Found memories.
Donna Tryon says
Lenore was a brave lady and full of adventure. We had many fun times when both working at the Friendship Center.
Thoughts and prayers are with your families
Bill Remmers says
What a fabulous picture
What a fabulous woman
Style – Loving concern
Intelligence – Creativity
Thank you Lenore
Gayle Johnson says
Spectacular photo of a truly spectacular woman! Lenore was her own person and an inspiration.
Bradford Taliaferro says
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.