Mary Ellen Tavenner

Mary Ellen Tavenner, 95, of Evansville, passed away in her sleep on Tuesday evening, January 20, 2015. She was in the comfort of her daughter Pamela’s home where she had lived for the past twelve years. She was born May 13, 1919, in Lynchburg, VA, to the late Matthew James and Ellen Burke (Payne) Parker.

She was an avid reader and when she wasn’t taking vacations or talking with family and friends, she was reading. Mary Ellen was such a loving and positive person that she will be greatly missed by everyone who had the opportunity to meet her. Mary Ellen was blessed with an incredible mind which allowed her to excel in all of her endeavors. She graduated from Randolph Macon Woman’s College in 1940 where she was the chairman of the Debating Society and was inducted into Tau Kappa Alpha – National Honorary Forensic Society. In 1946 she earned a Master of Science in Chemistry from Duke University and was inducted into Sigma Pi Sigma National Honorary Society in Physics. While at Duke Mary Ellen was employed as a Laboratory Instructor from 44-46. She continued teaching throughout her employed years in Virginia and Indiana, retiring from Mississinewa High School in Gas City, Indiana where she was the head of the Math and Science Department. Mary Ellen was a member of the National Education Association, Indiana Education Association, Mississinewa Education Association, the American Chemical Society, United Daughters of the Confederacy, and a communicant of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church here in Evansville.

Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her loving husband of 54 years, Michael Chester Tavenner, M.D.; and her daughter, Sarah Ellen Tavenner Reynolds.

She is survived by her loving children, daughters, Susan Tavenner Perez (Rafael) of Tampa, FL and Pamela Tavenner Ford (David) of Evansville; sons, Michael C. Tavenner, Jr., DDS (Kathy) of Port Orange, FL and Matthew Parker Tavenner of Evansville; grandchildren, Angela Tavenner Bugni (Mike), Ana Carla Perez Smith, MD (Daniel), Jeffrey Reynolds, Michelle Heneisen (Shawn), Jordan Tavenner, David Ford, and Isabel Maria Perez; and four great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to extend their most sincere thanks to Dr. Audrey Poor Bear for her tender loving care and expertise and to Deaconess Hospice.

Funeral Services will be 10:00 AM Saturday, January 24, 2015, at Alexander West Chapel, officiated by Fr. Rich Martindale, with burial in Alexander Memorial Park. Friends may visit Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Evansville. Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderWestChapel.com.