Hughie H. Tanner
Hughie Harold Tanner died peacefully December 11, 2022. Hughie was born in Bradenton, Florida on January 23, 1932, to Clifford Ray and Ethel (Underwood) Tanner. He attended school in Bradenton and played baseball and basketball for Manatee County High School. He left Florida State University to serve in the Air Force during the Korean War, as part of the 92nd Bombardment Wing, and met his loving wife of 64 years, MaryLou (Newton) Tanner, while stationed at Fairchild AFB in Spokane, WA.
After being honorably discharged in 1955, Hughie worked as a cameraman and producer for KREM TV and produced the WSU Cougar Football Highlights TV show sparking a love of all things Coug. In 1968 he received a job offer from Alpha Cine Labs and the couple moved to the Seattle area. They raised their three children, Michael (Donna), Lori (Greg Neumann), and Patrick (Jessica) in Woodinville and Redmond. Hughie worked as President and General Manager of Alpha Cine whose post-production credits included special effects work on the original Star Wars films as well as work on most motion pictures and documentaries filmed in Washington at that time. His time there led to work with notables such as Kris Kristofferson, Robert Redford, Shirley MacLaine, Teri Garr, John and Bo Derek and Slick Watts.
Hughie loved all sports but especially Gonzaga basketball, WSU and FSU football, and professional golf. He spent countless hours watching his grandsons play baseball. He competed on couples and men’s bowling teams, and through that made lifelong friends. He enjoyed playing cards, pool, golf, Sudoku (which he did in ink) jigsaw puzzles. Hughie loved to laugh and could tell jokes for hours. Some of them we could retell to our friends, some…not so much!
Hughie was preceded in death by his parents and sister Dorothy Glisson of Florida. He is survived by his younger sister Eunice O’Connor of Bradenton, Florida, his three children, his grandchildren CJ (Renee), Ryan (Hannah), Kayci, Buzz, Katy, and Aaron, and great granddaughters Kodie, Kennedy, and Eliza.
His kind heart, devotion to friends and family, and sense of humor will be missed by many, and a celebration of his life will be held the coming months. Dad supported both The Wounded Warrior Project and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Should you wish to, please make remembrances to either of those, or the charity of your choice.
The post first appeared on Barton Family Funeral Service.