Earl Leroy Taggart Jr.

Earl Leroy Taggart Jr., 78, of Jennings County, known as “Tag” by most, left his mortal life at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 25, 2025, to be with his family and friends to rejoice in eternal life with the Lord.

Tag was born October 31, 1946, and raised in New Castle, the loving son of the late Earl Leroy Taggart Sr. and Josie (Sorrell) Taggart. He married Elizabeth “Janie” Davidson Taggart on October 6, 1996, at the Land Between the Lakes, Kentucky; she survives.

After graduating from Chrysler High School in New Castle in 1964 he joined the United States Army in December 1965 and was assigned to the army artillery. He obtained the rank of Sergent (E-5) before being discharged. Tag went to work for a short period for Delco-Remy in Anderson and it was during this time he applied for the Indiana State Police. In February 1970 he was accepted into the Indiana State Police Academy and graduated in April of 1970. After completing his probationary period, he began his State Police career in Jennings County.

During Tag’s State Police career, he worked as a road trooper, narcotics detective, and finally a district detective. He completed numerous specialized training courses during his tenure as well as teaching investigation classes in drug enforcement, criminal investigations, and hostage negotiations. Tag was a team leader for the State Hostage Negotiation Team and the State Police Crisis Intervention Team. He received several awards and letters of appreciation from the Department, the public and other agencies as well as the Governor’s office during his career with the Indiana State Police.

Tag was very active in supporting the youth of Jennings County by volunteering his services and time as a football coach, youth mentor, and by conducting service programs designed for kids. As with his passion for working with children. Tag also worked his career cases with the same determination. Tag was a bulldog while working cases. He developed a reputation for being able to solve big cases whether it be a homicide, rape, or robbery because of this work ethic. He was able to make thousands of criminal arrests during his career and held an outstanding conviction rate. At the same time, he developed compassion for the victims, and it was not uncommon for them to visit him at all hours to discuss their problems and he would always make time to listen. It was also not uncommon for criminals to surrender themselves to him at his home when they learned Tag was on the case.

In November of 1998 Tag was elected to serve as the Jennings County Sherriff and served eight years. He had many stories of cases, personal events, and many memories of his career as an Indiana State Police Office and the Jennings County Sheriff; the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Tag was an author and had also served as a private detective in Jackson County, former owner of Jennings County Fence Supply from 1975-1988, and was elected to the Jennings County School Board in 2017 and was still currently serving. He was a devoted Christian and love his church family and being a deacon of the Bear Creek Baptist Church, Indiana Sheriff’s Association. He was a former member of the Butlerville Masonic Lodge and North Vernon Moose Lodge. He coached Little Blue Kiwanis Football and Middle School Football,  and baseball for Jennings County High School. He enjoyed car racing, spending time with his family, grandkids, animals, loved being on his farm and raising cattle. He enjoyed always having breakfast with his friends, His daily drives to town and his early morning Facebook post that everyone always looked forward to reading. He loved sports, coaching, and watching all his kids and grandkids at their events.

Tag will be dearly missed by his loving wife of 29 years, Janie; his sons, Jeff (Beth) Taggart of Westfield and Jay Taggart of North Vernon; his daughters, Lisa Myers of Columbus and Karen Johnson of North Vernon; stepsons, Ryan (Tim) Webb of Columbus and Nate (Beka) Webb of Westport; grandchildren, Lily Taggart of Chicago, Meg Taggart of Running Springs, California; Tommy Taggart of Westfield, Lulu Belle Webb and Jonathon Webb, both of Westport, Xavier Taggart of Lebanon, Ohio, Audrey Myers of Columbus, and Lance (Taylor) Gourley of North Vernon; great-grandchildren, Cash Gourley and Kinser Gourley, both of North Vernon; and his four-legged friends with his favorites being Melania, Peach, Penny, Pepe, Theo and Evil along with his feathered friends, Turks and Tom Tom. .

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl Leroy and Josie (Sorrell) Taggart, and sister, Carolyn Berry.

A funeral service for Tag will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the Jennings County High School Auxiliary Gymnasium with the Rev. Kendall Wildey and Rev. Gary Cave officiating. The visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday from 12:00 p.m. (noon) until the time of the service. Arrangements were entrusted to the care Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home and Cremation Service.

Memorials may be made in honor of Tag though the funeral home to Mercy Rescue and Adoption Inc or Little Blue Football.

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