LaMercedes Hutchins Woodard Tanzler

TANZLER LaMercedes Hutchins Woodard Tanzler, the wife of former Jacksonville Mayor Hans G. Tanzler Jr., died Friday after fighting a rare neurological disease for about a year. She was 74. The Tanzlers were married in 1973. Even though she was Jacksonville's first lady, Mrs. Tanzler continued in her job at the Ford Division District Sales Office, finally retiring in the mid-1980s. When Tanzler ran for governor in 1978, she took vacation time from her job to campaign with him across the state. "We had 33 wonderful years together," he said, "hunting, fishing, cruising and traveling." A native of Mississippi, Mrs. Tanzler grew up in Jacksonville and graduated from Lee High School before she married Capt. Edward A. Woodard. She returned to Jacksonville after he was killed in 1957 during the test of an aircraft. Even though she continued working after her marriage to Tanzler, she found time to participate in many of the outdoor activities the former mayor enjoyed, including hunting and fishing. After she retired, Mrs. Tanzler developed quite a green thumb, said her daughter, Carol Woodard Brown of Jacksonville. "I swear she developed a secret potion that she could put on anything and make it grow," she said. Mrs. Tanzler was a member of the Hibiscus Circle of the Garden Club of Jacksonville and was the donor of the circle's Civic Beautification Award. Tanzler said that even though his wife had been near death for months, "it's hard losing someone you love ... you never get used to it." Other survivors include a son, Robert Edward Woodard of Jacksonville; a stepson, Hans G. Tanzler III of Jacksonville; two brothers, Douglas Hutchins of Sky Valley, Ga., and Edwin Hutchins of Jacksonville; and five grandchildren, Will Brown, Emily Tanzler, Blake Brown, Alex Brown and Hans Tanzler IV. Mrs. Tanzler's dedicated caregiver was Miss Sherry Watson. The family would also like to extend their appreciation to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida for the wonderful care given to Mrs. Tanzler. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday evening. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday in the Ruth Lindsey Auditorium of First Baptist Church downtown. Burial will follow in Oaklawn Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of HARDAGE-GIDDENS MANDARIN FUNERAL HOME, 11801 San Jose Blvd. Memorial contributions can be given to either Community Hospice of Northeast Florida or The Salvation Army. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com