Edith Joan Jennings McAleney Tanner

1917 - 2010

Edith Joan Jennings McAleney Tanner, born Sept. 16, 1917, died Sept. 24, 2010.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Ed McAleney; and her second husband, Ralph Tanner. She is survived by her two wonderful sons, James and Patrick, who are married to two terrific gals, Janet and Rebecca, respectively. She is also survived by grandchildren, Karen Montgomery and Brian McAleney, and Karen's husband, Aaron, and their newborn son, Mason. She has six nieces and nephews, six stepchildren and numerous step-grandchildren.

Edith was born in Spokane, Wash., and reared with two siblings, a brother and a sister. She graduated from Stanford University in 1939 and then went on to work during World War II at Standard Oil Company in San Francisco, where she met her first husband, James Edward McAleney. They were wed in December 1946 and lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for many years. She and Ed retired to Florence, Ore., in the late 1970s. After Ed died, she married her lifelong friend, Ralph Tanner, a retired physician in Palo Alto, Calif. Edith was an active member of Saint Simon's parish in Los Altos, and past president of both the Palo Alto Women's Auxiliary and El Camino Hospital Auxiliary.

She was a redhead in every sense of the word. She loved a good game of both bridge and poker, hated the color purple, and was never, ever afraid to speak her mind. She loved a good party (especially a potluck) and her motto was, "It's 5:30 somewhere."

During the retirement years on the Oregon Coast, her home was always filled with people. She was always ready to travel, especially to Hawaii. As a widow woman in her 80s, Edith and her caregiver, Theresa Gray, became the Wild Women of Woahink, traveling from Ventura to Florence regularly and being seen in numerous casinos in between.

We are grateful for the care Theresa gave Mom during those years. Her last two years were spent at Carol House in Ventura, where she was lovingly cared for and attended to by the owner, Bill, his staff of caregivers, and the staff of Assisted Home Hospice. She will always remain one-of-a-kind to those who knew and loved her. Rest peacefully, Dear Mother.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home and Crematory, 3150 Loma Vista Rd., Ventura. Condolences may be left at www.TedMayrFuneralHome.com.