Sheila Tallman

   Sheila Tallman died May 18 at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

after a brief illness.

   Constance Sheila Carroll was born to Julia Augusta (Riley) and Charles

Michael Carroll in McGregor, Iowa. Her family’s business, Carroll Dairy

Farm, survived the depression and her father’s early death due largely to

the tenacity of her mother and the work of Sheila and her siblings Mary

Ellen, Kathleen, Charles Michael (Mike), and Jerome (Patrick). Sheila

attended Moody Ridge School and later attended Upper Iowa Teachers

College, where she received her education degree. She taught in

Savannah, Illinois, and it was there where she met Thomas E. Tallman.

They married in 1960 and moved eventually to the foot of Hillcrest Avenue

in Davenport, where she enjoyed her view of the Mississippi for 30 years.

She was a para-educator at McKinley School for 30 years. After Tom’s

sudden death in 1990, her friend Kathy Bartlett invited her to work part time

at The Toy Box in the Village of East Davenport – an iconic shop where

Sheila stayed for 20 years. She loved dogs, and after caring for three

consecutive Airedale terriers, Sheila became a sought-after dog sitter

which filled her time joyfully after retirement.

   She was preceded in death by her husband Tom, beloved sisters Mary

Ellen Cavanagh, Kathleen (Gene) Milewsky, brothers-in-law Ross Cavanagh and William Tallman, mother-in-law Geneva Tallman, father-in-law Emory Tallman, and an infant son.

   Those left to mourn her passing include her brothers Mike (Joanne)

Carroll, Pat (Karen) Carroll, sister-in-law Rita Tallman, daughter Julie (Jim Bass), sons Tom (Donna),

David (Liz), and Robert (Kristine Dearborn), eight grandchildren, four great-

grandchildren, innumerable nieces and nephews, and dozens of co-

workers, friends, and neighbors who were always welcome  - with their

dogs - in her home.

   Her life revolved around her family, her spiritual life at Sacred Heart

Cathedral, concerts of the Quad-City Symphony Orchestra, and WVIK-FM,

which could be heard in her house all day and helped her to sleep soundly

at night. Memorials can be made to Sacred Heart Cathedral, WVIK-FM,

Catfish Jazz Society, and the Quad-City Symphony Orchestra.

   A funeral Mass is scheduled for 10:00 am, Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport. The family will gather and greet friends at 9 am at the church. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries assisted the family with arrangements.