May Tanner
1919 - 2015
Lydia May Tanner (nee Adair), wonderful mother, caring grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother and devoted wife to Wayne until his passing in 1994, passed away in Lethbridge on Monday, September 7, 2015 at the age of 95 years.
Relatives and friends were invited to meet with the family at Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Friday, September 11, 2015 between 7:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M.
A burial service was held at the Payson City Cemetery, Payson, Utah.
She is survived by her children Betty Jean (Alvin) Schramm of Barnwell, Connie Lucile (Clayton) Boodry of Magrath and Daryl Wayne (Carla) Tanner of Chandler, Arizona; fourteen grandchildren, fifty two great grandchildren and fourteen great great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband Wayne Tanner.
May was born December 25, 1919 in Widstoe, Utah to Jedediah Orson Adair and Lydia Adair (nee Allen), the youngest of ten children. The family lived on her grandfather’s farm in a small four room house until they bought the hotel in town when she was eight years old. Life really changed for her and she learned a lot about washing dishes, but also became the great cook that we knew her to be. Her chicken noodle soup, baking powder biscuits and pies were just a few of the favorites her family enjoyed over the years.
May married Wayne D Alton Tanner at Manti, Utah. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Manti LDS Temple on June 14, 1958. May and Wayne farmed in Payson, Utah and then Parma, Idaho. As farm life has its ups and downs, She eventually had to find work off the farm. May could always find a job cooking wherever they lived. In 1964, at the age of forty four, she decided to take a Licensed Practical Nurse course and passed with flying colors. After that, she worked in doctor’s offices or hospitals. She was praised by all for her loving care.
May made her home a haven for her children and their friends. Everyone felt welcomed and loved. Many excursions were taken to the State Fair and other places with a car load of kids. She had a lot of patience and was fun to be around. Her crowning virtue was that she was always thinking of others and their welfare, never her own.
When the farm was sold, the couple moved to Salt Lake City and managed a mobile home park. When Wayne’s health began to fail, they moved to Idaho Falls to be closer to family. After Wayne’s passing, her daughters brought her to Alberta, where she spent her last twenty years.
May was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and she served in many church callings. May will be lovingly remembered by her children, grandchildren, extended family and many friends.