Thomas Tanner

Graveside services are scheduled at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 11, at Pinon Cemetery for Thomas A. T.A. Tanner of Pinon, New Mexico.

T. A. Tanner passed away peacefully in the early morning hours February 8, 2014 in Artesia, NM.

T.A. would be honored to have Tim Stewart, Bryan Prather, Alton Munson, Dale Leith, Gary Gage and Odie Prather serve as pallbearers.

Visitation will be at Terpening Son Mortuary Monday beginning at 10:00 a.m.

T.A. was born July 3, 1924 in Turkey Canyon at Cloudcroft, NM to Sam E. Tanner and Mary P. Pace Tanner.

On August 18, 1949 T.A. and Ruth E. Lewis Tanner were married in Alamogordo, NM.

T.A. Tanner enjoyed his time as truck driver hauling sheep and cattle for several years until he and Ruth moved to their ranch at Wilkerson Well in 1956. He and Ruth lived and ranched at Wilkerson Well until 2005 when they moved back to Pinon, NM to live with his sister and brotherinlaw, Samme and David Monson.
During the time they lived at Wilkerson Well, T.A. worked as a blademan for Otero County until he retired.

T. A. had a love for music. He played the fiddle and guitar for dances all over the southern New Mexico mountains. He greatly enjoyed the times and places when he was able to make music with Warren Tidwell, Bill Bates, Grubs Munson and James K. Polk. He won several Fiddlin contest over the years and cherished the trophies that came with the wins.

T.A. was preceeded in death by his parents, sisters Mary Lee Tanner and Betsy Walker, brothers Manual Tanner and Pat Tanner.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Ruth Tanner one daughter, Linda Taylor and husband Billand one granddaughter, Ellie Taylor of Pinon, NM. He is also survived by His sister and her husband Samme and David Monson of Pinon, NM.

There will be a covered dish lunch that will follow the services at the Pinon Clubhouse.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lakeview Christian Hospice or Otero Cowbells Opal Lewis Memorial Fund.