Mary Tanner

Mary Sheppard Tanner, age 91, of Gainesville, Florida died Saturday April 22, 2017.  She was born on November 7, 1925 in Washington County, Georgia to Rufus and Faye Sheppard, where she spent her youth.  Mary moved to Gainesville in 1993 after living in Fort Myers, Florida for more than 30 years where she raised her two children.  She worked in retail sales as owner of The Gift Mart in Fort Myers and retired from Belk Department Store in Gainesville in 2003.  She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church of Gainesville.  Mary loved all animals.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her granddaughter, Kimberly Hope Flaitz; and her brother Jack Sheppard.  She is survived by her son, Rodney Tanner (Genie) of Nashville, Tennessee; her daughter, Beth Flaitz (Mike) of Gainesville; her grandchildren, Justin Flaitz (Kelly), Molly Tanner, Kelsey Tanner and Griffin Tanner; and four great grandchildren, Peyton, Cooper, Hudson and Kenzie. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the family’s favorite charity, Stop Children’s Cancer (stopchildrenscancer.org), or a charity of choice.