Ken Tanner passed away Friday, June 18, 2021, at the age of 83 after a long hard-fought battle with numerous ailments. He went so far as to stage The Great Escape in the middle of the night in a snowstorm which resulted in a prognosis of a week to live but he managed to beat that date by 27 months.
He was born in Tooele on Aug. 23, 1937, to Ralph Tanner and Genave Harris Tanner. He attended Tooele schools and starred in football and basketball. He enlisted in the Navy and served overseas and was an undefeated boxer. He married Linda Brown and they had four sons together despite the fact they went together like oil and water. They later divorced. He married Lila Thomas Huddleston and gained a daughter. He lived most of his life in Tooele but also spent several years in Murray. He and Lila moved to Port Townsend, Washington, in 2006. He remained there until Lila passed away in 2016 when he returned to Tooele.
He worked as an electrician at the Tooele Smelter, McPhie Electric, Anaconda, and helped to set up the new magnesium plant for then NL Industries. He ended his career as the head electrical foreman at AMAX/Magcorp. He always took great pride in his electrical skills.
His favorite pastimes were pursuing the elusive big buck, fishing, metal detecting, and bar fights in New Town.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Jayce, and his wife Lila. He is survived by his sister Betty; sons Daryn (Sue), Damon (Georgette) and Chance (Julie); stepdaughter Sherry Snider (Sandra); 17 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and many extended family members and friends.
Special thanks to Maxine Shields, Mark, Mary Durfee, and Bruce Bolinder for their companionship and help. And to his favorite Beehive Homes aide/honorary daughter Lisa Totten.
To honor his adamant wish there will be no service.
As the Living Legend says: “There can be only one.”