Juanita Tanner

Juanita E. Tanner, 94, graduated from this life on Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at the Bowers Hospice House in Beckley, W.Va. She was born Feb. 27, 1920, the youngest child of John and Rosa Simmons Rader, of Gassaway, W.Va. Juanita spent a majority of her life in Gassaway, leaving only to move closer to her sister, Marie, in Rock Spring, Ga. The two of them cared for their mother who lived to be 112. As Juanitas health began to decline, she moved to Fayetteville, WVa., to live with her son, Jack, and his wife, Marion. Juanita was a graduate of Gassaway High School. She worked for many years as a bookkeeper for Rader Buick in Gassaway and later for Belknap Trailer Sales. She was a 50-year member and Past Worthy Matron of Gassaway Chapter #32 Order of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed knitting, travel, camping, and the Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration in Shelbyville, Tenn. She was happiest with her family and driving down the road. She taught most of her seven grandsons to count by fives and tens before they started to school. She liked to play rummy and set back and she was usually scorekeeper, and she played to win! Juanita was preceded in death by her husband, Russell W. Tanner, and her son, James F. Tanner. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family. In addition, to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Marie Costello and Marmel Brown; and brothers, Garland, Orlando "Tink" and Lanta Rader. Left to cherish many wonderful memories are her sons and their families: Jack and Marion Tanner of Fayetteville, WVa.; Jerry and Jan Tanner, of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; a dear daughter-in-law, Dr. Mary Tanner and her husband, Homer Kemp, of Ringgold, Ga.; seven grandsons, Brian (Sonja), James, Jeffrey (Beth), Russell (Stephanie), Waide, Andrew (Jacque), Matthew (Kelly) and Charlie (Sharla); six great-grandsons R.J., Drew, Zane, Jerry, Luke, and Brock; one great-granddaughter, Abbigail; several nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the caregivers at the Raleigh County Commission on Aging Day Care, and the staff at the Bower's Hospice House for their compassionate care. Funeral services will be held at Richard M. Roach Funeral Home, Gassaway, WVa., with Pastor Rusty Tanner officiating at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, 2014. Burial will follow at Sugar Creek Cemetery, Gassaway. Friends may call from noon until time of the service. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Raleigh County Commission on Aging, 1614 S. Kanawha St., Beckley, WV 25801, or to Bower's Hospice House, 454 Cranberry Drive, Beckley, WV 25801. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.roachfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Richard M. Roach Funeral Home, 708 Braxton St., Gassaway, WV 26624.