Maurice J Tanner

Maurice (Mo) J Tanner, 92, passed from this life at his home in Farmington, NM on May 30, 2018. He was born March 3, 1926 at home in Kirtland, NM to Arthur Baldwin Tanner and Elsie Taylor Tanner.
The same year Mo was born, his parents purchased Aneth Trading Post in southeastern Utah. He spent much of the time with his family at the trading posts his parents owned. They later owned Chaco Canyon and Pueblo Alto. Mo spent his summers playing outdoors at the trading posts. He spent the school year at the family home in Kirtland. Later in his youth, Mo was left to run the trading post by himself on occasion. It was during this period that he began to develop a great love for doing business with the Navajo people. On these occasions, because of the slow pace of life then, he experienced great learning of their language and culture through such means as card games and other Navajo traditional activities. Because of these friendships, when Mo was later married, he and Esta would spend time at Navajo social gatherings during warm summer evenings.
Mo was a Navy veteran of World War II. Once he and Esta met, they dated and were married June 24, 1949. After a short-lived experiment at owning the first Sherwin Williams store in Farmington, they decided they would prefer the slower paced life they would be able to have in Pueblo Pintado. They spent the next 64 years in Pueblo Pintado, with a home in Farmington, and their children attending school and church activities among good friends. They owned 5 separate trading posts and maintained a cow/calf operation in the area.
Mo just wasn't the same after Esta passed away 4 years ago. They were married 65 years before she passed away. Mo was preceded in death by two sons, Durrant and Javen. Mo is survived by his daughters Mauria and Kit, and his sons Tyson and Darren. Mo and Esta have 19 grandchildren and, soon to be, 23 great-grandchildren.
Mo is in the care of Brewer Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, 103 East Ute, Farmington, 505-325-8688. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, May 16 at the College Blvd LDS Chapel at 11:00 am. Bishop's counselor, Mike Palmer, will conduct. Mo's burial will have already taken place.