“I was a redhead, so I guess that’s why he noticed me.” --Nancy Tanner on catching Jim Tanner's eye (from a newspaper interview)
An emailer notifies me that Nancy Tanner passed away yesterday. She was the last living individual who had seen the famous Singer Tract Ivory-bills in the early 40's with her husband Jim. She had generously shared her knowledge and memories with many over the last several years amidst the Ivory-bill excitement begun in Arkansas. She celebrated her 96th birthday just a few weeks back, as recorded by Stephen Lyn Bales in this post:
http://ivorybillwoodpecker.blogspot.com/2013/06/nancy-tanner-celebrates-birthday-at.html
I suspect (but don't know) that Mr. Bales may have another tribute to Nancy up at his "Ghost Birds" blog when he gets a chance.
Meanwhile, my emailer sends along two links as tributes to her:
http://vimeo.com/6873694
http://torchbearer.utk.edu/2009/01/a-lucky-life/
…and I'll add this past post that Julie Zickefoose did when Nancy visited her home some years back:
http://juliezickefoose.blogspot.com/2006/01/mrs-tanner-gets-chetted.html
(If I find a comprehensive obituary or other official newspaper notice in the ensuing days, I'll add a link later.)
ADDENDUM: Mark Bailey sends along this link to an obituary in the Knoxville News Sentinel:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/knoxnews/obituary-print.aspx?n=nancy-b-tanner&pid=165650343
...and Stephen Lyn Bales now has a farewell post up here:
http://ivorybillwoodpecker.blogspot.com/2013/07/heavy-heart-after-nancy-tanner-passes.html
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