Elsie M. Tanner

Elsie was born April 22, 1929 in Cadillac, the daughter of James and Florence (Beck) Smith. She was married to Carl James Tanner for 55 years. The most important things to her were her children, whom she loved dearly, her husband, her love for the Lord, and Bayview Wesleyan Church. She loved flowers and had a green thumb and loved to crochet. She was an avid bowler and loved putting together jigsaw puzzles, doing crossword puzzles and making homemade cards. She had a love for birds and lighthouses and enjoyed traveling. She was a collector of angels and snowmen.

Elsie had a family and daycare for 39 ½ years, touching the lives of 97 children. She was also a foster parent for 10 years. She served as a Sunday School teacher, Children’s Church leader, CYC leader, Missionary Circle leader, and decorating chairman for many U.S. Air Force Chapels and for Bayview Wesleyan Church. She also chaired funeral luncheons at Bayview Wesleyan. She was the Treasurer for 15 years, assistant Treasurer for 11 years and a teller for many years at Bayview Wesleyan. She was PTA Treasurer on many US Bases and at Central Grade School. Elsie was awarded Person of the Year at Central Grade School and loved to work with teachers and children. She was a Girl Scout and a Cub Scout leader.

Elsie is survived by her children, Ruth Ann (Al) Steffen, Mary Ellen (Frank) Howald, Betty Jewell, Matthew Wayne Tanner, and Jacqueline Tanner; 14 grandchildren, Melony Steffen, Yvette (Tim) Bittle, Christine (Cory) Evans, Valerie (Ed) Ziringer, Michael (Elizabeth) Steffen, Bryan (Andrea) Steffen, Belinda (David) Lankey, Shawn (Crystal) Howald, Heather (Jeff) Fisher, Chad (Christy) Howald, Matthew Scott (Nikki White) Tanner, Danielle Tanner, Nickolas Tanner, and Justin Tanner; 14 great grandchildren, Tyler and Stephenie Evans, Erica and Bryce Lankey, Chelsea and Morgan Howald, Alex and Emma Steffen, Alexander and Elizabeth Howald, Miranda Steffen, Kyle and Joseph Ziringer, and Kevin Tanner; 3 step grandchildren, Adrian and Jeffery Fisher and Anna White.

Preceding Elsie in death are her parents, James and Florence Smith; husband, Carl Tanner in 2001; children, Phillip as an infant in 1949 and Sherman in 2002; infant brothers, Bert and John Smith; sister-in-law, Ellamae Gallivan; 2 brothers-in-law, Ray Gallivan and Floyd Tanner; parents-in-law, Carl and Hazel Tanner.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, Jan 13 at 11 am at Bayview Wesleyan Church with visitation on Thursday, Jan 12 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at Covell Funeral Home in Traverse City. Memorial contributions may be made to Bayview Wesleyan Church-Missions.

Please share your condolences at www.CovellFuneralHomes.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Covell Funeral Home in Traverse City, (231) 946-6515.