RICHARD TANKSLEY

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- Richard Tanksley, 79, of East Prairie died Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2000, at Bertrand Retirement Home.

He was born June 20, 1921, in New Madrid County, Mo., son of William Perry and Delia Rose Faust Tanksley. He and Mildred Williams were married Sept. 3, 1946.

Tanksley lived in New Madrid and Mississippi counties all his life. He was a farmer, and member of Pultight Church of God.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Daniel Tanksley of Oakland, Neb., David Tanksley of Ottumwa, Iowa, Michael Tanksley of East Prairie; six daughters, Gwen Duke, Sharon Johnson, Jackie Wallace, Sheila Meyer and Almedia Payne, all of East Prairie, Regina Carden of Farmington, Mo.; two brothers, Marion Tanksley of Reagan, Tenn., Carl Tanksley of East Prairie; four sisters, Magdalene Mills of Portland, Ore., Elizabeth Rogers of Sikeston, Mo., Dorothy Zook and Ruth Ivie of East Prairie; 18 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother and two sisters.

Friends may call at Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie after 5 p.m. today.

Funeral will be at 3 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. David Dowdy and Paul Tanksley will officiate. Burial will be in East Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery.