CLAUDIA TANNER

TANNER Claudia Jean Eugenia Beasley Tanner, age 91, a longtime resident of Jacksonville, FL, passed away on Monday, August 26, 2013, after a long and happy life. She was born November 9, 1921 in Marshall County, TN to Eugene Alvin Beasley and Myrtle Collins Beasley. She graduated as Valedictorian of her high school class in Chapel Hill, TN and went to Business School to prepare for a career with the US Government. She was working in that capacity in Montgomery, AL when she met the love of her life, Air Cadet Homer Tanner and married in 1943. In their early years together, she was quite adventurous, flying about north Georgia and Tennessee with Homer, landing in available fields and on country roads to visit family and friends. After settling down in Gainesville, GA to begin their family and then several other moves in Georgia, they made the final move to Jacksonville in 1956-57. She was a Charter member of the Cedar Hills Baptist Church for 54 years, a longtime member of the choir, Sunday School teacher and Women's Auxiliary. She was also employed there as secretary to the Pastor for nearly 15 years. Jean had a great gift for the written word and kept a diary for many years. She loved crossword puzzles and Jeopardy and collected inspirational verses and writings. She apparently never threw out a Christmas card or Birthday card or Mother's Day card or anything meaningful. She occasionally allowed that in her youth she had dreamed of a glamorous life as a writer or correspondent, traveling to other countries and meeting new people, but instead was content to be a loving wife and mostly stay at home mother. She had lost command of the language she so loved in the last few years and could no longer write or express herself well. And her greatly diminished sight and hearing prevented her from enjoying her readings or even television. We can take comfort in knowing she has the gift of her sight and words again in the presence of her Lord and Savior and is able to walk straight and sure by His side with Homer. She loved all the animals that came into her life, whether she chose them or they chose her. She especially cherished her cat, Dandee, constantly by her side for the last 15 years and grand-dog, Tessa, which she baby-sat daily for nearly 14 years. And, of course, she adored her loving family. Jean is preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Homer Calvin Tanner, two sisters, Mayme Beasley and Sally Lou Leathers and three brothers, Anderson (Buddy), Joe and William Beasley. She is survived by her loving daughter, best friend and companion, Charise Tanner of Jacksonville; son Stephen (Marilyn) Tanner of Atlanta; grandson, Brian Tanner of Mt. Pleasant, SC; granddaughter, Lyndsey (Richard) Pearson also of Atlanta; great-grandchildren, Riley and Adelyn Pearson; and sisters-in-law, Suzanne (Joe) Beasley and Mary (William) Beasley. Many loving nieces, nephews and friends also survive her. She will be dearly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing this sweet and kind hearted lady. The family invites friends to visit from 5:00 until 7:00 PM Friday, September 6, 2013 at the Jacksonville Memory Gardens Funeral Home, 111 Blanding Blvd., Orange Park, FL. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2013, 11:00 AM at Cedar Hills Baptist Church, 4200 Jammes Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32210 with Rev. Jerry Rowell officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of the Good Shepherd at Jacksonville Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, Jean would have wished Memorial gifts be made to her beloved church, Cedar Hills Baptist at the above address.