October 2, 2011       

WATERTOWN, N.Y.  —  Michael A. Tanner, 53, of 668 LeRay St., passed Sunday, Oct. 2, at his home surrounded by his family and under the care of Hospice of Jefferson County.

Calling hours will be 6 to 8 pm Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Hart & Bruce Funeral Home, Watertown.

A funeral Mass will be said 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Brookside Cemetery.

Born April 22, 1958, in Watertown, a son of Thomas J. and Elizabeth J. Phillips Tanner Sr., he attended Watertown High School.

He married Betty J. Johnson on July 9, 1977, at Emmanuel Congregational Church. The marriage was blessed at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church in 1987 on their 10th wedding anniversary. Mrs. Tanner works at The Club House and Ponderosa.

Mr. Tanner worked at Champion Paper Mill in DeFeriet for 23 years, Lincare where he delivered and set up equipment for five years and he most recently worked for Jain Irrigation in Watertown until he became ill.

He was a member of the Black River American Legion, Sarvey Hill Gun Club, and an avid hunter and fisherman.

Surviving are his wife, Betty J. Tanner, Watertown; his mother, Elizabeth J. Tanner, Watertown; two daughters and a son-in-law, Brandy L. and David C. Valentin, Rodman, Kristi E. Tanner and her companion, Eric Maass, Watertown; a son, Michael A. Tanner II, Watertown; a brother and his wife, Thomas J. and Susan Tanner Jr., Miami, Fla.; a sister and her husband, Karen E. and Robert A. Phillips, Watertown; nine grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.

A brother, Steven Tanner, died in infancy.

Donations may be made to Hospice of Jefferson County 425 Washington St., Watertown, NY 13601.








Information provided by Hart & Bruce Funeral Home and Newzjunky, Watertown, N.Y.