Ray Tanner

Rollie Ray Tanner, age 79, of Hohenwald, passed away suddenly on January 11, 2020.

Ray was born on June 15, 1940 to the late Emmett and Emma Lee Ayers Tanner in Pleasantville. He was married to Dorothy Tanner for 59 years and their union brought forth eight children. He worked as a logger most of his life before retiring a few years ago.

In his younger days, he enjoyed coon hunting and fishing. Every Spring he would grow a garden with several vegetables, watermelons and cantaloupes. The whole family helped with the gardening and loved eating the fruits of their labor. He would give away corn and bushels of sweet potatoes to anybody who needed it. He would take the family out driving the backroads to look for muscadines and he always knew where to go to pick turnip greens and stop to get a drink of water at roadside springs. Those were the days where the kids rode in the back of the pickup truck with the wind blowing their hair. He taught his children to be hard working and honest.

He was an active member of Springer Church of Christ. He truly enjoyed his grandchildren, especially in his later years. He often took them for a ride on the tractor. He built a trailer to pull behind the lawn mower just so he could ride them around. He had nicknames for all his kids and grandchildren. Needless to say, he was blessed with a wonderful wife, a house full of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Tanner; two sons, Jeff Tanner and Billy (Dana) Tanner; six daughters, Ellen (Don) Arledge, Bonnie Logue (Paul Zydel), Liz McClain (Jason Sparks), Nancy (Steven) Curry, Renee (Kevin) Dalton and Brittany (Travis) Carroll; 18 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one on the way; nine step-grandchildren; six great-stepchildren; brothers, Raymond (Becky) Tanner and Sam Tanner; sisters, Dorothy (Wilson) Staggs and Martha Qualls; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; stillborn son, Jason Tanner; brother, Harlon Tanner; and sister, Virginia Kilpatrick.

Service was held Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at Springer Church of Christ, in Hohenwald with Johnny Clayton officiating. Burial followed in the Springer Cemetery.

Williams Funeral Home, Columbia, assisted with arrangements.