James F. Tapscott

James Frederick Tapscott was born July 26, 1941 in New Albany, Indiana the third child of Mary Emaline Imle and Glenn Daniel Tapscott. After moving around the country during the war years, the family settled in Marshall, Illinois, which Jim called ""home"" until a final family move to Denver, Colorado, when Jim was ten. One of six children (four boys and two girls), Jim often spoke of what seemed like an ideal upbringing. The children were raised in a loving home and church life was an integral part of their lives. Jim graduated from Denver's West High School in Denver in 1959 and entered the US Army that same year, serving until 1963. He often spoke about his time stationed in Germany as the highlight of his service. Jim loved to travel and wished he could have seen more of Europe. Upon his discharge, Jim was disappointed to find that he no longer had a promised partial scholarship to Adams State College. He worked and attended classes at the University of Colorado at Boulder and then Auraria Campus. He graduated from CU in 1973 with a degree in business, and a major in finance. In August of 1966, Jim was introduced by a friend to Elizabeth Ann Morales (""Liz""), a Colorado-born girl, daughter of Pedro and Marie Chonita. After dating for a little over a year, Jim and Liz were married on 24 November 1967 at Holy Family Church in north Denver. Jim's brother Bob was best man; Liz's sister Alice Oliver was maid of honor. Jim and Liz's daughter Kirsten Ann was born five years later, in 1971, followed by their daughter Anndelynn (""Andi"") in 1974. Jim was a loving father. He never spoke down to his two girls and generally talked with them as if they were adults. His oldest daughter, Kirsten, recalls Jim encouraging her to think for herself and question the world around. As a teenager, she and Jim spent many hours debating politics and religion. Jim's youngest, Anndelynn, recalls dark starry nights on the back deck discussing the universe, when did it start, where does it go? As a father, Jim was their rock. He was the one they could always count on when life got complicated. He never judged others rather he would sit and listen. Then he always had a personal antidote to teach his girls that whatever they were experiencing, it had been experienced before by others. It would soon pass. After twenty-five years of civil service with IRS, Health and Human Services, and then the State Department, Jim retired. Jim and Liz returned to Colorado and spent the next fifteen years in Denver. Jim soon became a grandfather. His grandson, Ty, was born in 2004 and he excelled at grandparenting. Addison joined the family in 2007 and Madeline in 2009. Jim loved to sing to his grandchildren and held each baby in his arms lulling them to sleep by singing his ""cowboy songs."" In 2006, Jim's health began to decline. The family began to fear the worse, but Jim always pulled through. Jim had plans for 2013. He hoped to be able to visit his eldest daughter in Iowa in the late spring or early summer. He started preparations for a long camping season with Liz and his grandchildren. On 8 March Jim went in for surgery and following surgery he had some complications but seemed to be improving. On 14 March 2013 Jim slipped away in his sleep. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Mary Tapscott. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, his daughters Kirsten Tapscott LaBlanc and Anndelynn Tapscott Martin. He is also survived by his grandchildren, William (Ty) Martin, Addison Martin, and Medeline LaBlanc. Jim has 5 surviving siblings, Robert E. Tapscott (Albuquerque, NM), Bill Tapscott (Corpus Christi, TX), MaryAnne McKenzie (Littleton, CO), Margaret Jacot (Westminster, CO), and John Tapscott (South Plainsfield, NJ). Please share memories of James and condolences with his family by signing the online guestbook below.