Dr. J. E. Tanner

Dr. J. E. Tanner, 91, of Liberty, Missouri, passed away November 30, 2024. Memorial services will be held on December 30, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at 2nd Baptist Church, 300 E. Kansas St., Liberty, MO, with a visitation to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the William Jewell College General Scholarship Fund: www.jewell.edu/jewell-fund

Dr. J. E. Tanner was born Jimmie Eugene Tanner on September 27, 1933 on a forty-acre farm in Hartford, Arkansas, the first of four children of A. Clayton and Hazel (Anthony) Tanner. He graduated from Daniel Webster High School (Tulsa) and was proud of his unofficial spokesman status for various student organizations, as well as his role as Stage Manager in the play Our Town.

Dr. Tanner graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor's Degree in English and History at Oklahoma Baptist University (Shawnee) in 1955. He earned his Master's Degree in English from the University of Oklahoma (Norman) in 1957. He voluntarily enlisted in the Army in 1957 and spent six months on active duty, after which he was in the U.S. Army Reserve, AG Corps, where he earned the rank of Captain. He was honorably discharged in 1969.

After earning his Master’s Degree, he accepted a position at Lamar State University in Beaumont, Texas, where he met the love of his life, Carole Yant. They married in 1958 after he accepted a full-time English Professor position at Oklahoma Baptist University. He also taught as an English professor at Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana for one year. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma in 1964. He was Vice President of Academic Affairs at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX from 1972 - 1978; and at Louisiana College in Pineville, LA from 1978 - 1980; before settling with his family in Liberty, Missouri, where he served William Jewell College as Dean and Provost of the College from 1980 - 1997, Interim President from 1993 - 1994, and professor of English from 1997 - 2003, at which point he retired after more than 20 years of service.

Before and especially after retirement, Dr. Tanner and Carole were avid travelers and enjoyed trips around the world to destinations such as Hawaii, Alaska, Australia/New Zealand, England, France, Germany, Spain, Luxembourg, Canada, and many more, with Greece as a particular favorite. They were long-time members of Second Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri, where he taught Sunday School for many years, and where there is a Sunday School class named for him to this day. He also served Second Baptist as a Deacon, as chair of the Personnel Committee and as a member of the church council, among other roles. Dr. Tanner was a member of the Liberty Rotary Club and, during his retirement, researched and wrote a book detailing the history of the Liberty Rotary Club (Wheel Within a Wheel…The Rotary Club & Liberty, 1935-2010). He was a member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and served on the Board of Directors of the Missouri Council for Humanities. He, along with Carole, dedicated many hours to researching their family’s genealogy. He also enjoyed tennis and photography, and was a long-time fan and season ticket holder of the Kansas City Royals.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Carole; his parents, A. Clayton and Hazel Tanner; his sister, Louise Williams and her husband Vernon; his brother, Rodney Tanner and his wife Jane; his brother-in-law, Mandell Matheson; and his in-laws, Don and Ruby Yant.

He is survived by his children, Allison Tanner (Jeff Scott), and Kevin Tanner (Jaime); his grandchildren, Katrina Godfrey (Joaquín Fernández Campo) and their son, Noah Fernández Godfrey, Claire Godfrey (Abner Mixon), and Logan Tanner; his sister, Karen Matheson; his sister-in-law, Donna Hendrickson; as well as other relatives and many friends.

Condolences for Dr. Tanner's family may be left at www.churcharcherpasley.com, as arrangements are under the direction of Church Archer Pasley Funeral Home, 816-781-2000.