Nancy Taugner

Nancy Carolyne (Hair) Taugner, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and cherished friend to many, passed away peacefully at her home of 60 years on 2nd Street in Manhattan Beach, California, on September 25, 2026, at the age of 91. Born on December 28, 1934, in Little Rock, Arkansas, Nancy was the beloved daughter of James and Fredricka Hair. She lived in several places with her family that shaped her developmental years, including Baltimore, MD, Memphis, TN and Crosset, AR. Nancy's life was a testament to love, dedication, and an insatiable desire to see the world. She graduated from All Saints Episcopal College in Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1952. Nancy attended Southwestern (now Rhodes College) in Memphis, Tennessee, where she earned her B.A. in 1956. In March of 1956, her senior year at Southwestern, Nancy met her future husband, Terry Taugner, on a blind date at an Arthur Rubenstein piano concert. She was a classically trained pianist and had gotten premier seats so that she could have a close-up view of the pianist’s hands. She graciously sacrificed those tickets to sit with Terry “in the rafters”. Six months later, on September 15, 1956, mom and dad were married in Crossett, Arkansas and spent their honeymoon driving to Kodiak, Alaska where dad was stationed at a naval base on the island for three years. After raising her children, Nancy worked for Your Reps, a ground transportation company serving the cruise industry, for 20 years. She was in her element greeting travelers arriving and departing. Along the way, she forged lasting friendships with colleagues and airport personnel. Nancy loved to travel. Her favorite seat was the aisle in coach to “anywhere”. Nancy was a global citizen with a lifelong passion for Ancient Roman history. Her enthusiasm for travel was sparked by a trip to Japan in the 1960s which led to subsequent sojourns to Russia, the Middle East, the Far East, Latin America, North America, the U.K. (devotedly), the South Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and Europe with archaeological stops at dozens of ancient sites throughout the former Roman Empire. Above all, Nancy was a “people person.” She had a remarkable ability to connect with others through her spirit of generosity, enhanced further by her beautiful southern accent. Nancy was intentional in her human connections, touching the lives of people of all backgrounds that she encountered through her travels and in everyday life. She was also a devoted member of her church and participated in programs serving the community, including efforts to feed the homeless. Nancy and Terry celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on September 15, 2026. She leaves behind her suitcases; her husband of 70 years, Terry Taugner; her son, Todd Taugner, and his wife, Shelly (Derouin) Taugner, of Hermosa Beach, California; her daughter, Victoria (Tori) Ongodia, and her husband, Robert Ongodia, of Bethesda, Maryland; and her beloved grandchildren, Trevor, Shane, Kailey, Andrew, Isabella, and Tracy. She is also survived by her brother, Jim Hair of Phoenix, Arizona. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, October 18, at 2:00 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Redondo Beach, California, with a reception to follow. Nancy will be dearly missed by all who knew her, but her legacy of love and kindness will continue to inspire those she leaves behind. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shine on Sierra Leone in support of Ashley’s Clinic.