Billie Blaylock Tanner

BILLIE BLAYLOCK TANNER, 93, passed away on Jan. 5, 2017. She was born Aug. 12, 1923 in Arkadelphia, Ark., to Reverend Arden P. Blaylock and Irene Mitchell Blaylock Queen. She graduated with honors from Little Rock High School in 1941, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ouachita Baptist University in 1944 with a BS in Chemistry. From 1944-1945, she was employed in the lab at Oak Ridge, Tenn. She married James W. Tanner in 1945. They were married 49 years. After teaching school for two years, she became the office manager for James W. Tanner Insurance until his death in 1995. She was a lifelong member of Little Rock's First Baptist Church, teaching Bible classes and Sunday School, English as a second language, Vacation Bible School, Grief Share, and mentoring countless men and women over the years. She was also involved in teaching and mentoring women in Russia, making several visits to that country. She had a lifelong love of music, playing both the organ and piano. She enjoyed entertaining, bridge, crossword puzzles, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. Billie has been described as "the kind of friend everyone would want to have." Billie was preceded in death by her husband, James Tanner. She is survived by her son, Dr. Jim Tanner of Tampa, Fla., her daughter, Dr. Vicki Tanner, and her "other daughter" Gaye Richardson of Little Rock; sister, Dr. Betty Hollingsworth of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; brother, Dr. Joe Blaylock, of Honolulu, Hawaii; and step-sister, Virginia Queen, of Little Rock; granddaughters, Rebecca Rider (Josh) of Dallas, Texas, Laura Howden (Dave) of Chadds Ford, Penn., and Anna Sewell of Fayetteville; Grandsons, James Blaylock Tanner (Amy) of Winter Garden, Fla., and Gabe Sewell (Kalee) of Little Rock; and seven great-grandchildren. Burial will be Monday, Jan. 9, 2017 at 1 p.m. at Roselawn Memorial Park, followed by a Memorial service at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 62 Pleasant Valley Drive. Services provided by Roller-Chenal Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church. A very special thanks goes to the caring staff at Briarwood Nursing Rehab and Center. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.