Donna Fae Young Tanner returned to the loving arms of her husband, mother, father, siblings, grandson, and her Savior on June 15, 2022.
Donna had a magical childhood that began August 12, 1933 in Fairview, Utah when Alice and Jesse Young welcomed their 6th child (of 10) into this world. At the age of 6 her family moved to Provo, Utah where she spent her days doing what she loved most- finding adventures, playing with the kittens, climbing trees, exploring the fields, and teasing her siblings, whom she cherished beyond words.
Donna came from a big, loving family who filed their home with beautiful music, and Donna was no exception. She played the cello all through junior high and high school and into her adult life. She carried that love of music into her own children’s lives. Donna was a phenomenal artist and loved painting the most beautiful oil paintings, which her children hang proudly in their homes.
She married her sweetheart, Aksel Hyrum Tanner on August 14, 1951, in the Salt Lake City temple. They spent 64 amazing years together raising their 11 children. They moved around many times early in their marriage but when they finally moved to Salem in 1970, Donna knew that was where she wanted to stay. There she created the most beautiful home out of the old Victorian house.
In the 1980’s she, and some of her sisters and nieces, took up photography. They took great joy and delight in dressing up their children and grandchildren in vintage clothes and taking the most beautiful, professional looking photos round that house. Those photos are now a treasure to her posterity.
Donna was blessed with the most amazing “green thumb”. Everything she touched, she made beautiful. Her yard, flower beds, and vegetable garden were her passion. Her knowledge of plants, flowers, bushes, and shrubs was extensive. People were always coming to her for gardening advice.
Donna was very Christ-like. She was kind to everyone, giving, loving, patient, forgiving, and full of charity. She loves her Savior and Heavenly Father and served them faithfully her entire life, often sharing her strong testimony of Jesus Christ and His restored Gospel. Donna’s greatest love, joy, and pride in her life are her 11 children, 40 grandchildren and 80 great-grandchildren.
Donna will reunite in the future with her children Carla (Randy) Tuckett, David (Katherine) Tanner, Lynda (Steve) Kondor, Cindy (Gary) Thatcher, Robert Tanner, JoAnn (Roger) Grady, Holly (Scott) Rogers, Lisa Cabrera, Gena (Paul) Ashby, Sarah (Samuel) Quist, and Kristi (Blake) Prowse. She is proceeded in death by her husband, Aksel Tanner, parents Alice and Jesse Young, seven siblings, grandson Spencer Tanner, and great granddaughter Laren Hawkins. Donna was truly the most extraordinary mother and is greatly missed.
A viewing will be held on Thursday, June 23rd, from 9:00 – 10:45 am. The Funeral service will be immediately following. Both will be at the Salem 2nd ward building at 60 S Main street in Salem, Utah.
To view the service remotely, go to Legacy Funerals & Cremations Facebook page.
To leave condolences, visit www.legacyfunerals.com
Interment will be at the Salem City Cemetery at 1:00 pm, following the Funeral.
