Leslie Diane Taber, 66, entered into life comfortably at her home on October 30th, 2022. She was born in Corona, California on January 9th, 1956 at a Naval Hospital while her father served his country in Korea. She did not see her father for the first 11 months of her life but James loved his daughter right from the start. They moved to Tulsa after his tour ended in October of 1956.
Leslie and her parents were very close. Their home in Tulsa was the only home she knew until she and Jimmy met and fell madly in love and married, shortly after she graduated from high school, on June 8th, 1974. They purchased their first home together in 1975 and there was only one house separating them from her parent's home.
James loved his daughter; not just any boy would do and he finally accepted Jimmy as "good enough" after the birth of their son. "The Mackey Clan" became an addiction to the family (Grandma Cora especially). She loved her Douglas family as well (she loved family reunions).
Leslie loved her sons; she always wanted a daughter with red hair but was blessed with a granddaughter and 2 grandsons with red hair. She experienced a miscarriage that was a girl and struggled with it for a long time until her first son Jason was born.
Leslie loved children; when her first son was able to go to school she volunteered at Mark Twain elementary and would also substitute teach when needed. Her second son was practically raised at that school. She served as PTA president and was offered a contract as support staff and it soon became evident that she was a special person. The teachers and staff came to know her as "Taber". Leslie served TPS for 19 years between Mark Twain Elementary and Kendall-Whittier Elementary, which came to be another part of her family. While at Mark Twain she helped set up their computer lab and at Kendall-Whittier she was the attendance clerk. She enjoyed her time at TPS but retired in 2008 to relax at home and be grandma.
In 2011 Leslie suffered a stroke which changed life dramatically. She was paralyzed on her right side and had to relearn what most of us take for granted. She overcame her disability with sheer determination and hard work. Leslie learned to breathe, speak and eat all over and adjusted her left side to compensate for the loss of movement on her right. She never gave up, only adapted.
Leslie truly lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures; she loved to play softball and root for her team. She had a voice that carried (and could be quite loud); she was heard for long distances. She loved to go to garage sales; "she loved a good bargain" and was an avid collector of beanie babies and the number she collected may never be known. Leslie loved her family and friends and loved to cut their hair and had quite a list of clients. She also enjoyed gardening; you could find her planting flower bulbs and tending to her plants. Leslie had beautiful eyes and a smile that would melt your heart. She had a way about her which would make you love her.
Leslie will truly be missed, but our loss is heaven's gain, as she enters a new beginning. Those that loved her will never forget her and will love her forever in their hearts.
Viewing will be 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday, November 6th at Moore's Memory Chapel 1403 S. Peoria Ave., Tulsa, OK 74120. Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Monday, November 7th at Faith Tabernacle Pentecostal Church of God 4201 S. 47th West Ave., Tulsa, OK 74107 with interment following at Green Hill Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Sapulpa, OK.
Moore's Memory Chapel 918-583-6148