Calvin Curtis Taber was born on May 29, 1928 in eastern Taney County, near the community of Ocie. He passed away on February 10, 2007, after a short battle with cancer. Curtis's parents were the late Ossie Taber and Velma Clarkson Taber, farmers and descendants of early pioneers to the area. He attended grade school at the one-room Rhodes school and then went on to graduate from Forsyth High School. Curtis then attended the University of Missouri, pursuing a degree in agriculture. While at Mizzou, he was a member of Alpha Gammo Rho fraternity. After three years he left the university to accept a position teaching veterans in Ozark County, an occupation he enjoyed for many years. Many veterans of World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War, with financing through the GI Bill, received the benefit of Curtis's hands-on experience and extensive knowledge.

In 1949, Curtis married Julia Anna Mahan of Brixey. They became the parents of two children, Stan and Beth. Realizing the importance of completing his formal education, Curtis soon returned to the university, graduating in 1953. While finishing his course work, he supported his young family by working as a landscape designer and salesman for Neosho Nursery. His handiwork is still evident in many lawns and gardens throughout southern Missouri.

From 1953 to 1959, Curtis taught general agriculture, math and science at Gainesville High School. At the same time, the Tabers were launching a farming career. Their first endeavor was a short-lived registered Hampshire hog operation north of Gainesville, near Willhoit; Curtis and Julia hosted the first purebred hog auction in Ozark County. They then began to buy small parcels in the Brixey area, carefully putting together a sizable operation. As the farm grew, so did the responsibilities. Thus, Curtis gave up teaching high school students in 1960 in order to focus his efforts fully on beef cattle. The next decade was spent in backgrounding steers and developing the land.

In 1970, the purchase of some dairy heifers led to a new venture. For the next twenty years, Diamond T. Dairy produced milk from a large herd of Holsteins. After the dairy was discontinued in the early '90s, a cow-calf operation was enlarged, and Curtis enjoyed expanding his ranch into new territory in the southern part of Ozark County.

His greatest joy came from cleaning up a piece of land and seeing it grow a healthy stand of grass. Curtis often said that some of his happiest hours were spent on his bulldozer, turning a rocky, rough patch of the Ozarks into a lush, green pasture or productive hayfield.

Until only a few short weeks before his passing, Curtis was actively involved with the operation of Diamond T. Ranch, climbing into his pickup each morning to head down to the newest part of the farm at Howard's Ridge. He enjoyed his work; it was his hobby as well as his vocation. He told his family that he had thoroughly enjoyed his life, thankful that he could live it as he had chosen.

Curtis and Julia Anna Taber are members of the First Christian Church of Gainesville. For several years Curtis was a member of the Gainesville R-V school board, including serving as board president. He proudly participated in Soil Conservation Service programs, receiving Cooperator of the Year awards numerous times. On several occasions, Curtis was asked by University Extension specialists to speak at workshops and was the focus of newspaper and magazine articles describing his innovations.

Curtis Taber is survived by his wife of nearly 58 years, Julia Anna; son Stan and Janet Taber, of Wasola, and their children, Matthew Curtis Taber, Sarah and Sam Knopik, Emma and Lucinda, and Susannah and Derek Alms and Wyatt; and daughter Beth and her husband, Jim Peters, of West Plains, and their children, Andrew Peters and Julie and Jeffrey Gower. His brother, Douglas Taber, of West Plains, also survives, as well as brother-in-law, Lester Luna, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation for friends and family will be at 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 12, at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home in Gainesville, followed by services at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at the Souder Cemetery. Pastor Bobby Jo Wade of First Christian Church, Gainesville, will officiate. Memorials are suggested to Hospice House of Mountain Home, Souder Cemetery or First Christian Church of Gainesville.