Esta Mae Tanner

Esta Mae Tanner, 83, entered the rest of our Savior at her home in Farmington on June 10, 2014. She was born October 28, 1930 "up on the La Plata", just north of Farmington, to Dee Sims and Estelle Fisher. Her stepfather was George Huntsman. With siblings and friends, her childhood summer days were spent playing from the Bluffs to Chokecherry Canyon. When she was 12, during World War II, Esta and her family moved to Leupp, AZ, where her stepfather worked on the army base of a Japanese-American internment camp. Soon he was reassigned, and the family then relocated to another camp in Tule Lake, CA. At the end of the war the family returned to Farmington where Esta completed her junior and senior years of high school. She graduated with honors from Farmington High School in 1948. Esta married her eternal companion, Maurice Tanner, June 24, 1949. They had first met when he was recently home from the war and she was in her last year of high school. She and Mo have celebrated the last 65 years working side by side in their trading posts and on their ranch. Two of her major rolls in their business were that of freighter and copilot. As demonstration of her love for our Savior, Esta greatly enjoyed serving in the auxiliary youth organizations of His church. Having been a stake and ward leader, she recently reminisced with those same youth with whom she had developed strong eternal friendships. In recognition of her dedication and service to the Boy Scouts of America, she was presented the Silver Beaver award by the Great Southwest Council in 1976 in Albuquerque. When Esta was diagnosed with acute leukemia six weeks ago, the doctors told her that she had just a few weeks to prepare for her passing. She felt that it was a blessing from her Father in Heaven that she could use this awareness as an occasion to spend visiting with her children and dear friends before passing on to paradise to reunite with other loved ones. Esta was preceded in death by two sons, Durrant and Javen. She is survived by her husband, Mo, and her children Mauria, Tyson (Sebrah), Darren (Heidi), Kittrean (Sheldon Cook); and nephew Todd (Catherine). Esta and Mo have 19 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren and countless dear and cherished friends. She will be laid to rest at Greenlawn Cemetery in the gown she wore at her and Mo's wedding. The gown was made by Dr. Louise Odaffer. Memorial services are Saturday, June 21 at 11:00 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel at 4400 College Blvd, Farmington, Bishop Jeff Nygren will officiate. Honorary pallbearers are Craig, Kirk, Nate, Steve, Mark, Scott, and Brent Nygren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Basin Home Hospice, 200 N. Orchard Ave., Farmington. Esta's services are being handled by Martin T. Ferre, Funeral Director and Esta's cousin at Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, 103 East Ute St., (505) 325-8688.