Candace Taff Car, 71, Columbus

Candace Taff Carr passed from this life to her heavenly home on June 10, 2024. She was born at Kentucky Baptist Hospital in Louisville, KY on December 5, 1952, the youngest daughter of Andrew Miller Taff and Wanda Maxine Trinkle Taff of Paoli, Indiana. Candy lived in a number of Hoosier communities growing up in addition to Paoli: Knightstown, Michigantown, Clinton and Rushville. She graduated from Rushville Consolidated High School and Indiana State University, where she earned a B.S. in elementary education. She landed in Bartholomew County for her teaching career due to a field trip from ISU in the early 1970s. When she heard principal Ross Wallace speak from the steps of Mt. Healthy Elementary School, Candy knew she wanted to teach in Bartholomew County. Candy earned a master’s degree from Indiana University and a gifted certification from Purdue University.

Miss Taff began her teaching career at Hope Elementary School in January of 1974, where she founded the Little Hoosiers, the Hauser Junior Historians and Hauser Senior Historians. Hosting the IJHS state convention at the old Hope Elementary School and taking the Hauser Jr. Sr. Historians on a trip to Old Salem were highlights. She also coached varsity volleyball at Hauser for one year and was assistant women’s basketball coach and middle school basketball coach and eventually coached 5th and 6th grade girls basketball. Another highlight was conducting an adult women’s volleyball clinic with the help of Susan Finke Scott and David Webster. During her 9.5 years at Hope Elementary, Candy started a gifted education program with the help of Blue River Special Education Co-op.

In 1983, Candy joined Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation to teach gifted education in grades 4-5-6 for the remainder of her career at Richards and Parkside elementary schools. In Columbus, Candy continued to sponsor Little Hoosier chapters and enjoyed teaching her classroom students to do research and take them on field experiences. Another highlight was helping to create the local history unit for 2-3-4th graders It Began with Bartholomew with Susanna Jones and the financial support of the Lily Teacher Creativity Grant. Candy also helped teach local history with the Bicentennial film series, It Began with Bartholomew, now available through the BCHS and BCPL on YouTube. The best benefit of a long teaching career is watching former students grow into productive citizens who change the world!

Candy was grateful to have been raised by parents in a Christian home. Candy was married at Hope Moravian Church on June 10, 1989, to John L. Carr, whom she met through the Bartholomew County Historical Society. They shared a passion for all kinds of history: family, local, state and U.S. history. John and Candy raised two sons, who were their pride and joy: Luke and Andy. Candy was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Columbus. For over twenty years, Candy attended and eventually served as a discussion leader and children’s leader in the local Bible Study Fellowship. In retirement, Candy enjoyed volunteering at the Bartholomew County Historical Society and Yellow Trail Museum. Transcribing letters and documents were highlights, especially the World War I letters of Don Norton.

Candy survived breast cancer in 2001, but it returned in 2020. She was grateful for the care and treatment she received at the Columbus Regional Hospital Cancer Center, Breast Health Center and Our Hospice of South Central Indiana and at home from Journey North Care Management. 

Candy is survived by her husband of 35 years, John Louis Carr, their two sons, Luke Andrew Carr (Abby) and Andrew John Carr (Emma Boas), three grandchildren, Melanie, Franklin, and Dorothy Carr, and her sister, Debby (Tom) Brown of Indianapolis and several nieces and nephews. Her parents and grandparents and brother, Eddy Ray Taff, preceded her in death.

In keeping with Candace’s request, cremation will take place and a memorial service honoring her life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home on Washington Street. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service Saturday at the funeral home. A live stream of the memorial service may be viewed Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 1 p.m. at barkesweaverglick.com.

Inurnment will take place at a later date at Garland Brook Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Candy requested that memorial donations be made to the Bartholomew County Historical Society, 524 Third Street, Columbus, IN 47201, or to the Yellow Trail Museum, 644 Main Street, Hope, IN 47246.

Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the Carr family and a video tribute may be viewed at barkesweaverglick.com.