Wilma Imogene “Gene” Crane Tanner passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, October 31, 2026, at the age of 100. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thurman Key Tanner, who passed away this past April at the age of 103.

Gene was born on November 6, 1925, in Holcut, Mississippi, to Wilburn R. Crane and Leona Waldrup Crane. She was one of twelve children. Her siblings were Reba Belue, Ruby Ann Barnett, Reeda Mae Belue, Dovle Crane, Mary Yvonne Epperson, Clovis William Crane, Robert Climit Crane, Jerry Cochran, Jackie Gibbons, Jimmie Lynn Cox, and Donald Waldrup Crane,.

Gene moved to Memphis and married Thurman on September 27, 1946. Before Thurman’s passing, they had celebrated 78 years of marriage. Together, they had one son, Richard Key Tanner.

In 1946, Gene began working for BellSouth, now AT&T, as a telephone operator. She eventually became an executive assistant. She truly enjoyed her work and even played on the Communication Workers of America basketball team in 1953. She remained with the telephone company until her retirement.

Gene was a proud member of Eastern Star and served as Worthy Matron in 1970. She was also a member of several other organizations. She enjoyed traveling to conventions with her husband and walking several miles each day around her neighborhood. She was a member of Park Avenue Church of Christ.

Imogene always had a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.