Taffy Dee Gould Couts
April 17, 1951 – July 22, 2024
Auburn CA. resident, passed away at 73 years, Monday, on a hot July 22nd afternoon after a long battle with leukemia.
Grandmother to four grandchildren: Elliott, Maslin, Tillie and Olin, and second to last survivor of the Gould immediate family; survived by her elder sister Loretta Mae Puzzi, husband James R. Couts, daughter Lori Jean Gordon and sons Thomas Bartholomew-Couts & Jeff Couts.
Taffy was born in Miami Arizona, the 4th of 5 children of Durwood Lindsey Gould Sr. & Frances Elaine Hill Gould; surviving her eldest sisters Elaine Gould Dapper, Doris Gould Flagg, and younger brother Durwood Gould Jr.
An avid Arizona State Championship tennis player for Miami Senior High School Vandals, who married young to James Robert Couts as they shared a passion for dancing to the tunes of country western singers Waylon Jennings and Emmylou Harris. She became a mother in 1970 & 72 to Thomas & Jeffery, and later welcomed eldest daughter Lori into the family adopted from Carol Ann Couts, James’ first wife.
Taffy quickly determined to not only be a mother of three, but to support her family in every way possible, working for AMI , learning and earning a B & C Class driver’s license to become a bus driver at her children’s schools, to then chauffeuring and inducting technology workers for the Sysorex Government Services of Silicon Valley. While the kids were little she volunteered as a nurses’ assistant and PTA Parent for their school functions, and later earned a Professional Embroiders Credential from Purdue University and provided hand-stitched samples designs of every possible stitching style for the greater San Francisco Bay Area embroidery shops.
Having always believed in her Native American ancestry, at the request of her paternal grandmother, Taffy arduously began researching the families backgrounds; incessantly at times. This passion quickly developed into travels to the states various libraries, archives, and cemeteries, and led her achieving her Genealogy Certificate from Boston University using research skills learned at the National Archives. Working for numerous personal clients, families and organizations seeking their genealogical histories, Taffy took great pride in her research accomplishments.
Taffy’s never-ending service in research & learning simultaneously continued in her dedication as a Library Media Specialist for Natomas Unified School District’s, Natomas Middle School for the last 28 years. There she enjoyed ensuring the students, staff and faculty had the books, technology, and research skill capabilities every school needs to instill a questioning of resources, biases, research diligence, and learning the latest research methods. She also leaves behind her beloved Tonkinese Cat of 20 years; Sophie.
A family memorial was held at North Lake Tahoe on Saturday September 28th, including lunch at one of Taffy and Jim’s favorite locales.
Mom, we all love and miss you, and hold you in our hearts.
Wonderful, loving Mother-in-law; caring, giving, supportive and amazing with her grandchildren. ❤️
I had the opportunity to meet Taffy a few months prior to marrying her husband’s brother. She welcomed me to the family and extended invitations to visit again. When future visits did occur she shared her research in genealogy and the travels she made to extend her research.. Taffy definitely enjoyed her in-depth research and the results she obtained. She loved her family and shared pictures of her grandkids. Taffy also loved her various cats and provided them a loving home. She and I shared our love for our furry feline family members. Taffy will be sorely missed by her husband, children, grandchildren, other family members and friends. God rest her soul 🙏🏻
Taffy was an inspiration and never-ending support to me as a young teacher and father. Her and Jim selflessly showed love and compassion for me an my family throughout the years. Taffy will be greatly missed but never forgotten by me. Life is an eternal round and Taffy’s spirit lives on and will continue to bless many, many lives forever. Rob Pogue
What a wonderful, generous, and knowledable colleague and friend we had with Taffy. You will be deeply missed by all of us who knew you.
Taffy was a quirky personality and fun person to talk to who was generous with her compliments and yet always a person who would “call it like she sees it.” I always appreciated her support at LFG and NMS. Since this Fall was going to be my first in early retirement, I will miss her because my plan was to be able to visit and talk with her in the NMS library without having to watch the clock in order to get back to teach my class on time.
Taffy, you will be missed and NMS will never be the same without you.
Taff was a wonderful person,, friend and cousin. It is difficult for me to believe she is gone. Ever since I heard of her passing memories of us as kids. We were always up to something especially at granny and grandpa Hill’s farm. I’m just sorry life separated us and we did not spend much time together as adults.
Taff I’m sure we will meet up again. I will always love and miss you.
I worked with Taffy at Leroy F. Greene Middle School back in 1996. Her and I spent a lot of time together through ELAC meetings that would last after school into the evening even though she had a ways to travel home. She was a great source of information, if I needed anything she was always willing to help. She was very kind and understanding, but she was also a stubborn lady at times, but I loved her for that because she was a straight shooter. When they closed Leroy F Greene she ended up at Natomas Middle School and I was transferred to H. Allen Hight Elementary School. Her, Luis Chavez and myself would see each other every morning because we were the early crew. She will be greatly missed.
Taffy and I started at Natomas the same school year. We shared a number of interests, including genealogy and technology. She was always supportive and insightful when I would run a student research project past her. I could count on Taffy for a bit of tea and encouragement. Or just discuss family cemeteries and finding distant cousins.
Taffy was one of the hardest working people at Natomas Middle School. She was always ready to help me insure my SDC students received the books they needed . It was so wonderful to have someone else help me in the fight for them. Whenever I needed info, she was on it. She definitely held all the middle school kids accountable !! But also had such a kind generous heart. I loved her strength and drive. I also loved discussing the wrongs of the world with her.
Taffy and I shared a love for plants. I have a giant Monstera from her on my back patio. She was also always ready for a good conversation.
I’m so sorry to hear she fought leukemia. I never knew. I lost touch with her when I retired. Much love to you her family.