Aug. 28, 1927 — Oct. 21, 2008

Patricia Tanner died peacefully with her family at her side on Oct. 21. She and her family were bolstered and supported by the tender and genuine care offered from the extraordinary staff at Marian Estates.

Pat was born and raised in Inglewood, Calif., the daughter of Charles and Katherine Carey. She and her family moved to Redding, Calif., when she was 19. There she met H. Bruce Tanner while both were working at a local grocery store. They married in Reno, Nev., on Sept. 1, 1952. The retail grocery industry continued to figure prominently in Pat’s life. She and Bruce went on to own seven Thriftway grocery stores, starting with their first venture in a tiny store on the corner of Fourth and Henderson in Eureka, Calif., in 1967. They retired 33 years later in McMinnville, having owned stores in Corvallis, Astoria, Seaside, Aumsville and McMinnville, Oregon.

Patricia was a voracious reader who loved her home at the ocean, balancing her bookkeeping ledgers, friends and family, and each of a series of four-legged companions held a treasured corner of her heart.

Patricia was preceded in death by her son, Carey Donald Tanner, and her granddaughter, Molly Patricia Bruton, as well as her sister, Charlene Sather and brother, Ronald Carey. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Bruce Tanner of Stayton; daughters, Elaine Martin (Fred) of Salem and Amy Bruton (John) of Keizer; her two grandsons, Carey Harold Bruton (Christopher) of New York City and Lucas Tanner Bruton of Salem; close friend and care giver, Dorothy Paschal of Seaside; and numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.

Pat donated generously to numerous charities that focused on the needs of children and youth, therefore, in lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Liberty House, a child abuse prevention center, at P.O. Box 2613, Salem, OR 97308.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Howell-Edwards-Doerksen with Rigdon-Ransom Funeral Directors, 1350 Commercial St. S.E., Salem.