Carole Ann Tanner, age 82, passed away in her home while surrounded by her family, January 8, 2026. She was born to Wesley Aubrey “Dick” and Lee Ellen (Sumrow) Saye in Dulaney, Texas on March 30, 1943. Carole graduated from Celeste high school. She married Jack Clark “Jackie” Tanner October 26, 1982, in Durant, Oklahoma.
Carole is survived by her children, Ronda Dickeson, Lori Kinnaird and husband Cary, and Steven Lyday and wife Christie. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Brian Dickeson, Candice Otto and husband Nathan, Jerad Kinnaird and wife Kaylee, Jacky Kinnaird and wife Tambra, Brandon Grandfield, and Blaine Grandfield and wife Heather.
She has the following great-grandchildren: Piper Dickeson, Isaiah Otto, Emma Otto, Lleyton Kinnaird, Journey McIlveene, Lily McIlveene, Autumn Grandfield and Skye Grandfield. She is also survived by her brother Dick Saye and his wife Odile, and numerous nieces, nephews relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Wesley Aubrey “Dick” and Lee Ellen (Sumrow) Saye, husband Jackie Clark Tanner, grandson Wesley Dickeson, brother Teddy Joe Saye and sister Sherry Jones.
The graveside service will be 2:00 P.M., Monday, January 12, 2026, at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Visitation will be the day before from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M., Sunday, January 11, 2026, at Owens Funeral Home.
Carole Ann and I attended Celeste High School. I remember her as athletic and spirited with personality plus. She and Sarah Roach Swindell ruled the basketball court.
Carole had such quick wit and you could always get her talking about Dallas Cowboys football or the Dallas Mavericks basketball team. And her tireless efforts for so many years serving her community on the Food Pantry was just another way she gave of herself. We’ll miss hearing her sing on the church choir and seeing her smiling face at bible study. She was loved by so many.
It is still hard to realize that the invincible Carole Ann who could do anything on any sports field, running in the fields, riding bicycles on dirt roads, and swimming in her mother and daddy’s pool for the cows. We had water moccasins in ours. Carole Ann told me, “No snakes in ours.” I never saw any and from that time on I believed everything she told me and stood amazed at some of her moves on our courts. She was my doubles partner in tennis, and we were the first to take a Celeste team to State. Mr. Tillerson continued for decades and brought back the trophies as time went on. Save a place for me on the bench of fast eaters, Sarah