Lena Tanner Obituary (1944 - 2025)

Lena Mae Tanner, born on July 18, 1944, in Bartlesville, OK, passed away peacefully on June 5, 2025. Living by the words of Helen Keller, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all", Lena spent her life embracing the adventures that came her way. A resident of Jennings, Oklahoma, she was a spirited individual whose life was as vibrant and colorful as the arts and crafts she loved so much. Lena had a fulfilling career in the petroleum industry, where she worked for Philip Petroleum in the payroll department for many years. Ever the matriarch, she raised seven boys, three of whom she adopted, and also raised a beloved nephew. In retirement, she purchased five acres next to her sons' farms, honoring her love for family and cooking by preparing dinner for them every night. A woman with an unquenchable thirst for life, Lena loved to travel and had journeyed through all the states, ready to embark on a new trip at a moment's notice. Her love for adventure, family, and life itself echoed in her hobbies, from attending her grandkids’ and great-grandkids’ activities and parties to hunting for treasures at garage sales. Lena was predeceased by her parents, Ryder and Stella Whitecotton, her sister Doris, her first husband John Tanner, her second husband Henry Harjo, and her daughter Selena Tanner. She leaves behind a loving family: her sons John Tanner, Mike Tanner, Al Tanner, Cameron Harjo, Daniel Harjo and Tristan Harjo, her sister Virginia Dewberry, sister-in-law Susie Weldon and her husband Dave, nephew Robert Wasoski, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Join us to celebrate Lena’s life on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Dillon Funeral Service (1200 North Cleveland Avenue, Sand Springs, Oklahoma) for an open visitation at 4:00 pm CDT, followed by a Rosary at 6:00 pm CDT. The funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at Holy Family Cathedral (820 South Boulder Avenue West, Tulsa, Oklahoma) at 10:00 am CDT, with burial at AJ Powell Cemetery in Hominy, Oklahoma at 2:00 pm CDT. In remembering Lena, we encourage you to share your memories, stories, and photographs on her memorial page, celebrating a life filled with love, adventure, and resilience. As we remember Lena, we are reminded of the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "It is not length of life, but depth of life." Lena Tanner's life was indeed one of considerable depth, leaving a legacy of love, strength, and adventure behind her.