Earl DeOnge Tanner AKA Grandpa Tanner

 

 

Earl DeOnge Tanner, son of DeOnge Woodland Tanner and Ellen Mae "Nellie" Hilton, was born in Ogden, Utah on January 18, 1922. He passed away on March 10, 2013, at age 91, surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Louise Lyon and is survived by six children; Earl, Jr., Todd (Kathy Vail), Alison (Robert Wright), Victoria (Joseph Southerland), Pamela (Michael Allen); and David (Stephanie Ririe); 21 grandchildren and 31 great-grand children.

Earl was the first of ten children. His childhood memories include using warm bricks to heat his bed in winter, swimming in irrigation canals, shooting BB guns, sledding down Ogden's 32nd street and reading Tarzan. He loved his extended family and rich heritage.

Earl graduated from Ogden High in 1939. He went on to Weber College where he lettered in track and graduated valedictorian. He began law school at the University of Utah, then halted his studies to become a full-fledged member of the Greatest Generation. He served in Africa and Europe in the US Army Air Corps where he was involved in the invasions of Sicily and Normandy.

Upon returning home, he resumed his studies while living at the Sigma Chi fraternity house. Soon, Earl won the heart of the U's homecoming queen who fell in love with his irrepressible optimism and smooth swing dancing. They married March 22, 1947 in the Salt Lake Temple. Loving Mary Lou and their six children became the focus of his life.

As part of his distinguished legal career, Earl was a founding member of the Utah Bar Foundation. He was also active in real estate, business and mining ventures. He incorporated the Virginia Tanner Children's Dance Theater, helped develop a bussing policy for Granite School District and served on the Holladay-Cottonwood Community Council.

Earl enjoyed playing tennis, swimming beyond the ocean breakers and writing poetry. He was a gifted gentleman farmer who shared his bounteous crops of peaches, apples, pears and plums with all.

In 1993, Earl and Mary Lou served a LDS mission to the Washington D.C. Temple Visitor's Center. He felt his greatest success in life was raising a large, close-knit family who love one another.

Friends and family are invited to join us in honoring our beloved father. A viewing will be held this Friday, March 15, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Saturday, March 16, from 10:30am to 11:40am. Funeral services begin at noon. All services will be held at the LDS chapel located at 2625 East Milo Way (4910 South) in Holladay, Utah. Interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.

 

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I do believe that I was Grandpa Tanner's favorite grandchild.  But then again, I think he made all 21 of us feel that way.  I am so grateful that Grandpa is back with the love of his life - he has woken up dissapointed every morning that he was waking up.  For me, this is the end of a legacy with Grandma and Grandpa both gone now.  They left a special gift of family love.