Obituary: Grace Adams Tanner

Grace Adams Tanner 1906 ~ 2005 Grace Adams Tanner died peacefully at her home on Thursday evening, April 7. She was 98 years old. Grace was attended by her children and those who have cared for her in her last days. Born in Parowan, Utah on November 30, 1906, Grace was the sixth child of Luella Redd Adams and Thomas Davenport Adams, both descendants of early southern Utah settlers. Her parents' first year of marriage was spent on an LDS mission in Samoa. They returned to raise a family of eleven children. They worked in dairy farming and held various church and civic positions. Grace married Obert Clark Tanner of Farmington, Utah on August 5, 1931 in the Salt Lake Temple. They had six children. Three of their sons died tragically in childhood of unrelated causes. Grace and Obert's life together was one of deep affection and mutual respect. They traveled and studied widely, eventually returning in 1944 to Salt Lake City where Obert taught philosophy at the University of Utah and built a manufacturing company that makes recognition awards for corporations all over the world. Obert died in 1993. A stalwart supporter of her husband's adventures at every turn, Grace was a vivacious and distinguished woman in her own right. After studying for three years at the University of Utah, she graduated from Southern Utah University in Cedar City, and holds an honorary doctoral degree from that university. The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre there is named for her parents, and the Alumni Room at the University of Utah bears her name. Grace and Obert enjoyed their shared charitable work, creating a legacy of giving for the arts, education and the public good. Grace was particularly devoted to the Red Butte Gardens and the Utah Nature Conservancy. Two other projects, named for Grace and Obert, are the Gift of Music and the Humanities Center at the University of Utah. Grace is survived by her sister, Carol Adams Wright, of Parowan; her children Joan Adele Tanner Reddish of Taos, New Mexico; Carolyn Tanner Irish of Salt Lake City; David Obert Tanner of Ramona, California; seven grandchildren and a great-grand-child. The family wishes to express their appreciation to Grace's friends and to those who have cared for her in recent years: Pat Rhodes, Zona Field, Jann Criswell, Viviane De Oliveira, Claudia Brown, Mark and Terry Gilbert, and Joleen Huber. The family will greet friends and relatives at Grace's home in Salt Lake City, 3501 South 2700 East, on Monday evening, April 11, from six to eight o'clock, and at the stake center an hour before the funeral service. Funeral services will be held in Salt Lake at the East Millcreek stake center on 3103 Craig Drive (3100 East 3650 South) at noon on Tuesday, April 12. There will be a family graveside service in Farmington following. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Utah State Library for the Blind and Disabled or Red Butte Gardens. On-line condolences www.larkinmortuary.com