Hayden L. Tanner Sr.

Hayden Tanner Sr., age 90 of Sutton, Vermont passed away at his home with his loving wife of 61 years at his side after a brief illness on October 03,2023. Hayden was born in Sheffield, Vermont on July 9, 1933 to Harold Tanner and Myrtie (Greene) Tanner and was one of fourteen children; All of whom have predeceased him except for his youngest brother Wesley Tanner and wife Jane of Massachusetts.

Hayden joined the Air Force in 1955 at the age of 22 and traveled the world. Upon discharge he resided in Massachusetts with one of his sisters. He came back to Vermont to see his family and that is when he met his future wife, Patricia Murray. They were married on July 7^th, 1962. Hayden was employed by many different farmers as a herdsman. The couple moved from farm to farm because of Hayden’s skills as a dairy farmer. After living in Walpole, Mass where Hayden was a Herdsman for several years, the couple with their four children moved back to Vermont, built a house in Sutton where they have resided for 51 years.

After returning to Vermont, Hayden was employed at Lane Packing for many years as a truck driver and later as a foreman of the boning room; He went on to work at Murray Meats in St. Johnsbury, VT. Following these jobs, he went to work on the Don-Sim Farm as a milker. Hayden would take many odd jobs to feed his family such as delivering newspapers, working for Rural Community Transportation; giving rides to people in need when he was at an age that some people would consider old. He may have been old in number but, he was young at heart.

His favorite things, besides his wife; maybe his children, grandchildren, and great Grandchildren, were scratch tickets, coffee, horse pulling, playing cards, and spearmint gum. He was watching horse pulling and playing 31 at the young age of 90. His grandchildren would always hit him up for gum; knowing that he would always have some. He always had a zest for life; You could always find him smiling and with arms wide open to greet his loved ones. You would never see him out and about without having jeans on, perfectly combed hair, and of course a clean-shaven face.

He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia (Murray) Tanner; Daughter Lori (Tanner) Cooper and husband Bruce of Lyndonville; Sons, Hayden Tanner and partner of Sutton, Kevin Tanner and wife Dawn of Lyndonville, and Richard Tanner and partner of Sheffield. Grandchildren Nick Pike and wife Mandy, Joshua Pike and partner, Amelia Broome and husband Thomas; Emily Tanner, Sarah Tanner, Brooke Hubbard-Sizen, Tucker Sizen and wife Danika; Chris Wheelock and wife Misty, Raven Tanner, and Phillip Tanner. And of course, his all-time favorite people, his great grandchildren Isaac, Mary Jane, Jayden, Makayla, Ryder, Tamina, Leon, Emmah, Nova, Damon, Jaxston, Gunner, Noah, Kevin, Easton, and Emerson; As well as many nieces and nephews.

Hayden is predeceased by a son Edward Harold Tanner from a previous marriage.

A graveside service will be held at the Sutton Village Cemetery at 11:00am on Saturday October 21^st, followed by a Celebration of Life at the VFW in Lyndonville, VT from 1:00PM to 5:00PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Caledonia County Fair Horse Pulling Assoc. In the care of Hayden Tanner Jr. 581 Michaud Drive, Sutton, VT 05867. A trophy will be given in the name of Hayden Tanner Sr.