William Earnest Tanner, Jr., of Crocker, was born on December 23, 1944, at Linn Creek, a son of William Earnest and Loretta Josephine (Mooney) Tanner, and departed this life at 6:57 p.m., Wednesday, April 1, 2015, in the Lake Regional Health System, Osage Beach. Bill had attained the age of 70 years, 3 months, and 9 days.

Bill was united in marriage on June 8, 1966, at Miami, Oklahoma to Carolyn Palmer. He was preceded in death by one son, Kenneth Dale Jeffries; his parents, Bill and Helen Tanner and Frank and Jo Moulder; and one brother, Jessie Tanner.

Bill had accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior and was a member of the First Baptist Church, Crocker, where he had served as Deacon for many years. He was also a member of the Crocker Lions Club, The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Post #108, Crocker, and served on the board for the Crocker Senior Center. Bill had worked as a mechanic and was owner and operator of the Crocker Phillips 66 Station, retiring in December 2009. He enjoyed square dancing, fishing, competitive pool, reading and working puzzles.

Those left to mourn the passing of Bill include: his wife, Carolyn Tanner, Crocker; one son and daughter-in-law, Johnnie "Pete" and Felicia Jeffries, Crocker; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Mary Johnson, Fort Dodge, Iowa; Glenna and Chuck Heidle, Springfield and Connie and Mark Sireno, Brandenburg, Kentucky; four brothers, Earnest "Buck" Tanner, Richland; Robert "Bob" Tanner, Waynesville; Chester Moulder, Macks Creek; and Terry "Wick" Tanner, St. Robert; four sisters, Lela Goldsberry, Max Creek; Bonnie Schafer, Willard; Lenvel Mitchell, Climax Springs and Joyce Anderson, Greenview; eleven grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren and one expected in the near future; and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted for Bill at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 4, 2015, in the First Baptist Church, Crocker, with Pastor Dave Swetnam officiating. Jimmy Moore sang "Amazing Grace" and "Go Rest High on That Mountain" for the service.
Interment was in the Crocker Cemetery under the direction of the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Crocker. Pallbearers for Bill were Hank Newcomb, Rob Goodrich, Andy Helms, Matt Schroer, Bill Goldsmith and Jeff Black. Honorary pallbearers were Bob Goodrich, Bob Boulware, Herman Goodrich and Travis Gilstrap.

Memorials are suggested by the family to the Crocker Senior Center with envelopes available at the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Home, Crocker.