Bessie J. (Huston) Tanner

Bessie Jane Tanner, 92, of Arkansas City, KS flew away to Heaven on Thursday, September 15, 2022 at Presbyterian Manor.

Graveside services will be held at 1:30 on October 9th, 2022 at Rose Hill Cemetery in South Haven, KS, a visitation will be held afterward at the First Baptist Church of South Haven. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Blackwell in memory of Bessie Tanner. Arrangements are in the care of the Shelley Family Funeral Home of Arkansas City.

Bessie was born March 22, 1930 in Homestead, OK to parents John and Thelma (Erb) Huston. She graduated from Blackwell, OK High School and married Floyd Henry Tanner on September 7, 1952. Bessie was a homemaker and enjoyed being a farm wife; she later worked as an Avon sales representative then as a seamstress for Southwest Cupid. She was an active member of the Braman Baptist church and then Blackwell, OK 1st Baptist Church. Being a gifted woman with many talents, Bessie was a member of the South Haven Women’s Garden Club where she enjoyed fellowship and learning crafts – crocheting, quilting, painting, flower arranging, etc.  She also served as a Cub Scouts den mother in Braman, and loved playing and teaching her grandchildren games and crafts.

Survivors include her children: Richard Tanner and wife Janet, Elizabeth Schwerdtfeger and husband Daryl, David Tanner, Marvin Tanner, Sara Nelms and husband Harold, Carl Tanner and wife Leanna, and Laura Grafton and husband Kurt, grandchildren: Danny, Cynthia, Jonathan, Chance, Amy, Eric, Sondra, Karlea, Baylee, Benjamin, and Lizzy; and great-grandchildren: Emmett, Lyle, Hank, and Cody (arriving soon). She is preceded in death by her husband, parents, and brothers and sisters: William, Henry, Dorothy, Rosie, Patsy, Elizabeth, Lloyd, and Emma.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bessie J. (Huston) Tanner, please visit our floral store.