Ann Crane Taff Heilman

Ann Crane Taff Heilman, age 90, died peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022 in her apartment in Orlando, FL, the same day that her father died 36 years previous. Ann was born at home on the Crane family farm in Rush County, IN. She was the sixth of seven children born to D.W. and Lenore Crane. Ann grew up during the Great Depression in a big, happy, hard working farm family. She learned at an early age to “dress a chicken”, drive a tractor, and “put up the beans”. She shared a big bedroom with 4 sisters, Mary, Jean, Carolyn, and Alice. Her big brothers, Dick and John, loved their little sister very much. Ann graduated from Milroy High School and attended two years at the University of Kentucky, where she studied home economics and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. She returned home to Milroy because she was “homesick”, and that’s when she met JD Taff on a blind date! JD was home on leave from his Air Force assignment in Colorado Springs. It was love at first sight. They got to know each other through letter writing and were married a short time later on March 6, 1955. They quickly had three children: a daughter, Julie, and twin boys, Joe and Andy. They settled into small town family life in Rushville, IN, where JD owned and managed Taff Furniture with his father. In 1970, tragedy struck when Ann lost JD to cancer. Ann courageously and purposefully raised her three children very successfully. She went back to work for an optometrist, and then many years as an assistant at the Dunn Center for mental health. In 1983, Ann had another blind date! This time it was Phil Heilman of New Castle, IN. They were married for the next 16 years, during which they traveled and enjoyed being grandparents. For health reasons, in 2008, Ann moved to Orlando. She resided in Westminster Towers Retirement Community, just five minutes from Julie and where she loved visits from her nine great grand children. Ann was an inspiration to all who knew her. She taught her children to mind their manners, work hard, be generous, play cards, cook good food, and laugh! Ann grew up in the Christian faith at Milroy Methodist Church and later joined the Presbyterian Church. She was also an active member of PEO women’s philanthropy. Ann is preceded in death by her parents, Dolph Warriner Crane and Lenore Lavelle Crane and her siblings, Mary Crane Swarts (Red), Richard Crane (Sally), Jean Crane Rohr (Bill), John Crane (Lee), and Carolyn Crane Smitherman (Jack). Also her husbands, JD Taff and Phillip Heilman, sister-in-law Ann Taff Anderson (Andy), and daughter-in-law Karen Wolf Taff (Joe). She is survived by her sister Alice Crane Spuller (Bob), her children, Julia Taff Burkett (Kevin), James Andrew Taff (Cindy), and Joseph Crane Taff. Her eight grandchildren, Matt, Emily, Ben, Natalie, Ellen, Drew, Will, Mary Grace, nine great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews will miss her very much. Her favorite saying was, “It’s hell getting old!” But there is no doubt in our minds that Ann has moved addresses for the last time to Heaven. Rest in Peace. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service is planned for Friday, May 26, 2023 at 11 AM at The First Presbyterian Church of Rushville, IN. (226 N. Morgan St.) There will be a visitation at 10:15 am at the church followed by a service at 11:00. Ann will then be buried at East Hill Cemetery in Rushville with her husband, JD. If you would like to make a memorial gift, please consider the Rush County Community Foundation (RCCF) /JD Taff and Ann Anderson Memorial Fund, https://rushcountyfoundation.org or 765-938-1177.

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Ann Crane Taff Heilman

December 3, 2022