Jewel Tanksley

Jewel Edna Lee Tanksley, 82, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of East Prairie, Mo., passed away Wednesday, April 8, 2009, at the Lutheran Home.

She was born Jan. 2, 1927, in Searcy, Ark., to the late Ira and Fannie Belle Church Allred. She and Samuel Perry Tanksley were married Feb. 28, 1946, at Charleston, Mo. He preceded her in death July 21, 2000.

Jewel lived in Cape Girardeau the past several years, moving from East Prairie. She was a member of Cape First Assembly of God Church.

She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Rich and Patti Tanksley of Chaffee, Mo., Dwight and Kim Tanksley of Cape Girardeau; seven grandchildren, Matt and Carol Tanksley of Jackson, Adam Tanksley of Farmington, Mo., and their mother, Tonja Thompson of Cape Girardeau; Courtney Tanksley of Benton, Ky., and her mother, Christina Onnybecker, Nikki Tanksley of Minneapolis, Will Tanksley of Cape Girardeau, and their mother, Cathy Tanksley, B.J. and Ashley Tanksley of Jefferson City, Mo., Brandon Tanksley of Cape Girardeau; two stepgrandchildren, Robyn Shelly of Wardell, Mo., Zach McDaniel of Chaffee; four great-stepgrandchildren, Makayla, Makenzie, Dirk and Drew Shelly of Wardell; two sisters, Ella Mae Branum of East Prairie, Francis Redfering of Cape Girardeau; two brothers and sisters-in-law, John and Betty Allred of Grayson, La., Wylie and Pam Allred of East Prairie; and a host of nieces, nephews and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; two sons, Samuel Wallace "Bo" Tanksley, Gary Wayne Tanksley; two sisters, Christine Campbell and Gloria Ann Archie; and a brother, Frank Allred.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with Gary Brothers officiating. Burial will be in East Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Matt, Adam, Will, B.J., Brandon, Nikki and Courtney Tanksley.