Friday, January 14, 2022
I was just a teenager when I first met “Grampa” Tanner. He looked me up and down and said, you must be Jack Shonts’s daughter and proceeded to tell me stories of working with my dad and his brothers and how much he respected them. I couldn’t wait to tell my dad, but when I brought up Chester’s name before I could, my dad shared stories about Grampa Tanner and told me how much he respected him. Both said, “that’s a hard-working man”. And boy were they both right. From the moment I met him, he was always working on something. Working on the farm, mowing grass, chopping wood, building houses, and we all had a great time when he shared his bounty from the garage sales down in Treasure Lake. But mostly, it was the family get togethers the were the best. The tribute to this man cannot be summarized in brief sentences. He leaves an incredible legacy, enormous shoes that no one can fill, and the most honorable footsteps to follow in. He certainly loved his family and genuinely was a hero on many levels. There’s a reason great men like Chester Tanner are here with us. They serve as reminders and examples of what it means to have decency, strength and perseverance, to be honorable with earned respect, and genuinely loved. I mourn with all those that knew and loved him.
Love to all...Katie
