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Billy Tanner
SIKESTON — Billy Monroe Tanner was born Dec. 21, 1946, in Qulin, Missouri, to Elva Atteberry Tanner and Lorne Houston Tanner. He changed his address from this earth to his heavenly home on July 28, 2024. His departure was made from his home in Sikeston, where he lived with his bride of 56 years.
On July 20, 1968, Bill married the love of his life, Judith Rice Tanner, who survives of the home. Also surviving are their three children: Matthew (Erin) Tanner of Sikeston, Rebekah (Micah) Harris of Sikeston and Justin (Tara) Tanner of Whiteville, Tennessee; six grandchildren, Ryan (Denae) Bambrough, Caitlyn (Mason) Williams, Luke Tanner, Carolyn Tanner, Adelyn Tanner and Evelyn Tanner; as well as two great-grandchildren, Eli Bambrough and Magnolia Williams. Bill has one surviving sibling, Kay Davison, along with several nieces, nephews and countless friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, five of his six siblings, and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Bill was known for his love for the Lord as well as his love for laughter and life. He was a faithful member of his church and served for decades as a member of the pastor’s council and Sunday School secretary. He was never without a joke or a quick comeback to anyone that needed a laugh. Talking to people was his favorite pastime and he did it well and often. He often said that when he passed, the funeral would have to be put on hold because it would take an extra week for his mouth to quit running. He was a proud veteran who served two tours in Vietnam. He was the owner of Tanner Heating and Air Conditioning for nearly 40 years. He had loyal customers that he spoke of fondly years after retirement. To say that he loved his career is an understatement. He was a man that knew how to do just about anything that needed to be done and was was often heard saying, “If I don’t know how to do it, it probably didn’t need to be done to start with.” His children believed that saying implicitly.
Bill had several other quotes that he was known for around friends and family. A few of them are as follows: “People that think they know everything really annoy those of us that do,” “If I want something out of you, I’ll unscrew your head and dip it out,” and the ever famous line after blessing a meal “Amen… shot at a rooster and killed a hen.”
His favorite scripture was Proverbs 18:24.
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly.” Bill Tanner was a man with countless friends. He was able walk out that particular verse very well in his daily life. He will be sorely missed on this side of Heaven, but the anticipation of seeing of seeing him again, healed and whole, is the hope and comfort that we will all cling to. Until we meet again, let us all continue the legacy of laughter, corny jokes, and being a friend.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until the funeral hour at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at the McMikle Funeral Home in Sikeston.
Interment with full military honors will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Missouri.
Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com.
The family kindly asks memorial contributions be made in honor of Bill to the Stars and Stripes Musuem in Bloomfield or another worthy veterans’ cause of your choosing.