Elmer Tankersley

Elmer Tankersley Obituary Elmer Tankersley, age 94, of Rantoul , Kansas , died Tuesday, November 3, 2009, at his residence. He was born on Thursday, February 11, 1915, at his home in Rosedale , Kansas , the son of John Watson and Ann Mabel (Ackerman) Tankersley. He grew up in Rosedale, and drove his first car at age 9. He was charged with getting ice and water daily from the ice house in Rosedale . He lived in Rosedale until his marriage to Goldie L. Hester on July 24, 1935 when they eloped to Leavenworth , Kansas . After marriage, they purchased Goldie’s parents home and moved to Merriam , Kansas in the late 30’s where they lived till the summer of 1968 when he and Goldie built their home on a farm in Rantoul . Elmer graduated from Rosedale High School in Kansas City , Kansas . In the mid 1950’s, he and Goldie attended Calvary Bible College in Kansas City , Missouri. Elmer developed a love for trains during his childhood, and he fulfilled this love through working as an engineer for Frisco Railroad for thirty-four years, covering the Kansas City to Ft. Scott line. He once said that the only thing he every wanted to do was “drive” an engine. He did so. Following retirement from the Frisco, and the loss of his wife, he filled his days working at Country Mart in Ottawa since 1990. He was a member of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen of Kansas City. Second to his love of trains was his passion for traveling, he and Goldie and their children enjoyed camping out with a canvas tent, sleeping bags, and a two burner Coleman stove. They traveled to just about every national park in the nation. They made it to Yellowstone 18 times before Goldie passed away in 1990. In 1948, Elmer and Goldie accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and lived their faith in front of their children, grandchildren, and friends. He was a faithful member of the Merriam Bible Church , and helped build the Merriam Bible Church . Upon relocating to the farm, Goldie and he attended Ruhamah Baptist Church. He is survived by his son Gary Tankersley & his wife, Glenda, of Salem, Missouri; a daughter Sharon Fiola & her husband, Fred, of Reno, Nevada; seven Grandchildren and nine Great.Grandchildren. He is precede in death by his parents and his wife, Goldie. Funeral services will be held from the Dengel & Son Mortuary in Ottawa at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2009. Friends may pay their respects to Mr. Tankersley at the Dengel & Son Mortuary after 9:00 a.m. Friday, where the family will meet with friends 7:00 to 8:00 Friday evening. Interment will be at Ruhamah Cemetery , near Rantoul , Kansas .