Ward A. Tanner Sr.

SMETHPORT, Pa. - Ward A. Tanner Sr., 78, of the East Valley Road, passed away on Friday (April 28, 2017) at the Charles Cole Memorial Hospital in Coudersport, following a long illness.

Born April 13, 1939, on the family farm in Keating Township, where he lived his entire life, he was a son of John and Neva Kemp Tanner. On Aug. 24, 1957, in Port Allegany, he married Dawn Marie Austin, who passed away on March 5, 1999.

Ward had attended Farmers Valley School.

Mr. Tanner was a logger and later was employed as a heavy equipment operator for 10 years with PennDot. He also co-owned and operated along with his wife a dairy farm on East Valley Road for over 40 years.

Ward was a member and past governor of Port Moose 460, where he held a fellowship degree. He was a past member of different milk co-ops in Mckean County. He was also a member of the Mckean Masonic Lodge No. 388 of Smethport, Arnold Chapter No. 254 of Port Allegany, Coudersport Consistory, Zem Zem Shriners Temple of Erie, Mckean County Shrine Club and McKean County Road Runners. Mr. Tanner loved spending time with his children and his grandchildren on the farm.

Surviving are two daughters, Gloria French of Smethport and Neva Fontaine of Portville, N.Y.; four sons, Ward (Elisha) Tanner Jr., Ronald (Kimberly) Tanner, Robert (Tracy) Tanner and Anthony Tanner, all of Smethport; a sister, Maribell Dunn of Coudersport; two brothers, Chester Tanner of Coryville and Norman (Barbara)Tanner of Eldred; 11 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife of 42 years, he was predeceased by seven brothers.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Frame Funeral Home. At 8:30 p.m. the McKean County Masonic Lodge No. 388 will conduct a memorial service at the funeral home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday (May 2, 2017) with the Rev. Max Simms officiating. Burial follow in Fairview Cemetery, Port Allegany.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospital in Erie and St. Jude's.

Online condolences may be made at www.framefuneralhome.com.

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