Kathryn Amerson Tanner

Kathryn Amerson Tanner, of Savannah, beloved wife of David Eugene Tanner, went to be with her Lord Wednesday morning, June 15, 2011.

She was the daughter of Lilie Mae Amerson Burgamy and Cleon Adams Amerson. She loved her parents and was a wonderful daughter to them.

She graduated from the Georgia State College for Women and taught elementary school in the school systems of Brunswick, Atlanta, and Augusta. After World War II she married the love of her life, Gene. She supported him through medical school and throughout his professional life, being a true partner in all of his many accomplishments professionally and in service to the community.

She loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren unconditionally. She was very proud of all of them. She showed her great strength of will and love in finding Andrew for David and Laurie, the greatest gift of their lives.

She was always eager to try new things and would do anything to be with her family. One of her greatest triumphs was in overcoming her fear of the open sea and a profound tendency to seasickness to become an accomplished deep sea fisherman and fair seaman in her own right so that she might be at Gene’s side while he pursued his passion for the sea. She was forever grateful to Mike at Brady’s for teaching her how to dock a single engine inboard boat; a skill many an accomplished boater lacked. She loved their trips down the waterway with her beloved sister and brother in law, Miriam and Ed. An only child, she loved Gene’s brothers and their wives Miriam and Ed, Curtis and Martha and Lamar and Eleanor as if they were her own.

She loved her many friends in the Geritol Gypsies, her bridge and supper clubs and was always thrilled to be with them. She was a true friend to many and during her last illness was overwhelmed with the love and kindness those friends showed to both her and her family.

Hers was a rich life defined by service to God, family and community.

She was a member of the Isle of Hope Methodist Church where she served on the Administrative Board, the Finance Committee, and many other committees of the church. She was a charter member of the Parkersburg Garden Club where she was on various committees and the Executive Board. She was past President of the local Auxiliary to the Georgia Medical Society and held many state level offices of the Auxiliary to the Medical Society of Georgia. She was a member of the Savannah Symphony Guild and served on their board.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Anthony Costrini for his loving care of Kathryn over the many extra years of life that care gave her. We also want to thank Kristie Kent of Islands Hospice, Beth Conway and Dr. Kelly Erola of Hospice Savannah for their compassionate care of both Kathryn and her family in her last months of life.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter, Gena Kay Clausen and her husband Gerald of Sandersville, Georgia; a son, Dr. David C. Tanner and his wife Laurie of Charlotte, N.C.; granddaughter Susan Clausen of Savannah; two grandsons, David Edward Clausen (Ginger) of Birmingham and David Andrew Tanner of Charlotte; and two great grandchildren Thomas and Kali Clausen of Birmingham; and a host of devoted friends.

Visitation will be at 20 Tiffany Place on Isle of Hope, the family home, on Thursday, June 16th, from 5 to 7 P.M.

Funeral Services will be at Isle of Hope Methodist Church at 2 P.M, Friday, June 17, 2011. A family interment service will be held in Sandersville in the Brownwood Cemetery at 11:00AM, Saturday, June 18th .

The family suggests remembrances be given to Isle of Hope Methodist Church, 412 Parkersburg Road, Savannah, Georgia 31406; Hospice Savannah, P. O. Box 1390, Savannah, Georgia 31416; or Mineral Springs Baptist Church, 165 Yarbrough Lane, Mitchell, Georgia 30820.

May and Smith Funeral Directors of Sandersville is in charge of these arrangements. www.mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com