Dr. Donald R. Tanner

Dr. Donald Ray Tanner, 78, of Lubbock died at home after a short illness with leukemia.Celebration of life service will be at 2:00 p.m. at the First Assembly of God Church, Memphis and 98, in Lubbock on Saturday, November 21, 2009. Those officiating will be Rev. Tom Lakey, Rev. Robert Slaton, and Rev. Carl Shroyer. Burial will be at Resthaven Memorial Park.He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 10, 1931, to the late Ray and Hazel Tanner. He graduated from Fairfield Township High School in 1950.Don graduated from North Central University with a diploma in Pastoral Studies, completed Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at McPhail College and a PhD in Education from the University of Minnesota in 1974.In 1952 he married Norma Rosalie Huisinga. Don and Norma traveled as musical evangelists for ten years, traveling to Africa, Europe, Philippines, Malaysia, and Mexico.In 1964 he returned to Minneapolis and taught at North Central University for 12 years. In 1977 the Tanners moved to Lubbock and he took a position in Music Education at Texas Tech University. He retired in 2001.Dr. Tanner has maintained a steady record of publications by authoring and coauthoring six books and many articles published in professional journals. For over ten years he headed a fundedresearch program which involved working with the local public schools. He and his team used music as a tool to assist in the study of language arts, social studies, mathematics and science, in addition toreading. In terms of academic service, Dr. Tanner served the School of Music in several ways. He served as Chair of Music Education, and as Chair of the Library Committee. He was an active participant in university governance by serving on many professional committees and boards. The National Association for Music Education recognized him as an outstanding educator. He also created a website for a Texas state organization. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from North Central University in 2002.His sister, Marjorie Marple, preceded him in death in September, 2009.He is survived by his wife, Norma; daughters D’Anne (and Steve) White of Lubbock and Candace (and Tom) Judd of Dallas; four grandchildren, Tanner White and Sydney, Hannah, and Samuel Judd.Memorials in his name are suggested to Trinity Christian Schools as a part of a lasting heritage to him in the lives of the students.The family will receive visitors Friday, November 20, from 6:00 — 8:00 p.m. at Resthaven Funeral Home and from 1:00 — 2:00 p.m., November 21, prior to the service at the church.