SAMUEL TANKSLEY

Samuel Perry Tanksley, 73, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, July 21, 2000, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau after several years of illness.

He was born Aug. 20, 1926, at Walnut Grove in New Madrid County, son of William Perry and Delia Rose Foust Tanksley. He and Jewel Lee Allred were married for 54 years.

"Sammy" Tanksley was owner and operator of Sam Tanksley Trucking Inc. in Cape Girardeau for 32 years until his semi-retirement in 1984. He was then active with Tanksley farms, until he became disabled and his two sons continued to operate the farm.

He accomplished many things and performed many good deeds for several people and the community.

Survivors include his wife; two sons and daughters in law, Rick and Cathy Tanksley and Dwight and Kim Tanksley of Cape Girardeau; three brothers, Richard Tanksley and Carl Tanksley of East Prairie, Mo., and Marion Tanksley of Reagon, Tenn.; four sisters, Mageline Mills of Portland, Ore., Elizabeth Rogers of Sikeston, Mo., and Dorothy Ivie and Ruth Ivie of East Prairie, Mo.; seven grandchildren, Matthew, Nikki, William, B.J., and Brandon of Cape Girardeau, Adam of Benton, Mo., and Courtney of Benton, Ky.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Samuel Wallace and Gary Wayne Tanksley; two sisters, Margie Ann Marshall and Gracie Aliene Tanksley.

Friends may call at the Shelby Funeral Home in East Prairie from 4-8 p.m. Sunday.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. The Rev. Gary Brothers will officiate, with burial in East Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.