Basil Tanner

Basil H. Tanner, age 90, of West, passed away Sunday evening, November 19, 2023.

Funeral Services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 25, 2023 at Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel in West, with Rev. David Snipes officiating. Burial will follow at Vaughan Cemetery near Aquilla. The family will receive visitors from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Basil was born September 22, 1933 in Menlow area of Hill County, Texas the son of the late Frank and Rena (Whalen) Tanner. He attended Aquilla High School. On November 9, 1957, he was united in marriage to Greta Hufstutler in Dallas. Greta preceded him in death on May 20, 1971. He then met and married Nelda Clewis Alexander in New Mexico on September 22, 1973. Basil proudly served his country in the United States Air Force from 1952 to 1956. He worked in construction and was a General Contractor. He owned his own company in Houston and in West and took on jobs anywhere he was asked. Basil enjoyed helping others with construction projects. He loved singing, cooking, walking, and philosophizing. He had a great love for Aquilla and education and was a founding member of the Aquilla Scholarship Foundation. Basil was a member of the First Baptist Church of West.

Basil is also preceded in death by his siblings, Patsy Tanner, Allyene Phillips, Louise Butcher, Jim Tanner, Bonnie Williams, Benny Tanner and an infant brother.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 50 years, Nelda Tanner of West; his children, Frank Tanner and wife Sandy of Houston, Steve Alexander of Corte Madera, CA, and Alana Haitsuka-Fernandez and husband Michael of Waimea, HI; his grandchildren, Nicholas Tanner and wife Riley, Hana Girl Haitsuka, Kealia Haitsuka, Caroline Tanner, Peyton Alexander, and Tatum Alexander; sisters-in-law, Wilma Tanner, Leigh Ann Tanner, and Yvonne Kee; a brother-in-law, Glenn Williams; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Pallbearers are Dan Moss, Bruce Griffin, Oliver O'Brien, Ricky Gwin, Lloyd Nichols, and Tim Henderson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Aquilla Scholarship Foundation.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to all of the staff at West Rest Haven for the compassionate care of Basil and to the staff at Aderhold Funeral Home for their love and care.