Earl Edward Tanner

Funeral Services will be held at a 1:30 pm Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at St. Genevieve Catholic Church for Earl Edward Tanner, Sr., 84, who passed away on August 8, 2009 at 11:23 am at Lafayette General Medical Center. Reverend Curtis Mallet, Pastor of St. Genevieve Catholic Church, will be Celebrant of the Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Burial will take place in Calvary Cemetery. Mr. Tanner, a resident of Lafayette, LA, was the son of the late Jack Tanner of Pennsylvania and the former Mary Miglin of Lithuania. He served in the United States Marine Corps as a staff seargent and was station in the South Pacific during World War II. After receiving an honorable discharge he worked with the Lafayette City Police as a police officer. He also worked for two years as a US Deputy Marshal. He worked as a letter carrier for the United States Postal service for 24 years until his retirement. He was a member of the St. Genevieve Catholic Church Community. Served as an usher at St. Genevieve Church for many years as well as a eucharistic minister. He was a member of the American Legion post 69 and also a member of the VFW. He was in the Krewe of Zeus, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and the Big Band Club. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame for United Blood Services and was honored in a special ceremony by Baxter Services. He was the number one blood donor in the Lafayette area for many years. He played semi-pro baseball in the 1950's as well as an avid golf player with two holes-in-one on hole number six at the Municipal Golf Course. He is survived by three daughters, Mary Anne Cornett and husband Glen of Lafayette, Pat Pelafigue and husband Joseph of Lafayette and Becky Goodness and husband Paul of Lafayette; three sons, Earl "Buddy" Tanner, Jr. and wife Debbie of Youngsville, Clifford Tanner and wife Jo Ann of Scott and Chris Tanner and wife Marilyn of Lafayette; fifteen grandchildren, Allen Cornett, Toni Thorp, Jill and Ryne Tanner, Eric Doyle, Leslie LaFleur, Keith Hebert, Amy Jo Broussard, John Tanner, Alex Tanner, Dustin Tanner, Bannon Tanner, Zachary Tanner, Sarah and Aaron Goodness; six great grandchildren, Ariel and Amber Cornett, Matthew Allemand, Alex and Amber LaFleur and Natalie Tanner; and special friend and dance partner, Martha Dupuis. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Lelia G. Tanner, and one brother, Walter Tanner. The family requests that visiting hours be observed on Monday, August 10, 2009 from 10:00 am until 9:00 pm and will continue on Tuesday 8:00 am until service time. A rosary will be recited on Monday at 6:00 pm in the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Allen Cornett, John Tanner, Eric Doyle, Alex Tanner, Bannon Tanner, and Dusty Tanner. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ryne Tanner, Aaron Goodness, Keith Hebert, and Zachary Tanner. The family would like to thank the staff of Lafayette General, especially the staff of the 9th floor, Hospice, as well as the many doctors who cared for him.

Earl Edward Tanner

August 22, 1924 - August 8, 2009