Mary Elizabeth Tanner

WEAVERVILLE – Mary Elizabeth Tanner (Mary Beth), born April 13, 1955, in San Diego, California, left this life on Sunday, October 12, 2025. A resident of Weaverville, NC, Mary Beth was married to Donald Thomas Landes for 35 years. Mary Beth and Don moved to Asheville in 2019 and were active members of Central United Methodist Church (CUMC) in downtown Asheville. Mary Beth was the daughter of the late Mary Jane Tanner and Charles Sayers Tanner, Sr. In addition to her husband she is survived by her siblings, Charles Sayers Tanner, Jr. and wife Helen Johnston Tanner, William Kevin Tanner and wife Janelle Jaeger, and Jane Ellen McGill and husband Donald McGill; and several nieces and nephews.

Mary Beth spent the majority of her working years in the Washington, DC metro area where she accomplished a variety of occupations. Mary Beth was a member of the elite United States Air Force Singing Sergeants, after departing the military she went to culinary school and upon graduation worked as a culinary contractor and The Blair House, the President’s Guest House while contracting with local catering businesses and office temporary companies. She completed her working career by returning to Federal service as a staff officer with the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency.

Mary Beth holds a Bachelor’s of Music Degree from Wittenburg University in Springfield, Ohio and a Master’s of Science of Strategic Intelligence from The National Intelligence University in Bethesda, Maryland. Mary Beth was a life-long singer, music lover and supporter. She was active in the Asheville choral scene as a member of CUMC’s chancel choir, as a member of the Asheville Choral Society and of the elite Asheville women’s choral group, the Blue Ridge Women’s Chorale. Mary Beth and Don were season ticket holders of the Asheville Chamber Music Series and active supporters of many choral and orchestral offerings in Western NC.

Mary Beth was a life-time member of and an active contributor to the P.E.O. Sisterhood whose mission is to educate women through its many philanthropic projects. Mary Beth was initiated into P.E.O. in Chapter AI, Swarthmore, PA in 1977 and, over her life, joined chapters in Washinton, DC, Alexandria, VA, Spruce Pine, and Asheville, NC. She served in every local chapter office numerous times and with great pride on North Carolina’s inclusion and belonging initiative Sisters Embrace EVERYONE (SEE). Mary Beth was an avid cook, enjoyed entertaining and sharing delicious recipes with family and friends. She and Don loved to travel, cruising frequently on the Holland America Line and making an annual Fall trip to Wrightsville Beach, NC to spend time with long-time friends at The Carolina Temple Island Inn.

A memorial service is scheduled at Central United Methodist Church, 27 Church Street, Asheville, NC 28801, on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., with Pastor Mary Brown officiating.  There will be a reception before the service at 1:00 p.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, family and friends are asked to contribute to the P.E.O. Moheto Women’s Scholarship Fund. Checks should be made payable to Cottey College with this notation in the memo section: Wema Women’s Scholarship Fund – SPENDABLE ACCOUNT. Donations should be sent to Cottey College, 1000 W. Austin Blvd., Nevada, MO 64772, Attention: Office of Financial Aid – Wema Women’s Scholarship Fund at Cottey College.

West Family Funeral Services is honored to be serving Mary Beth’s family. Condolences may be offered to the family under her obituary at www.westfamilyfuneralservices.com.