After a life well-lived, Evelyn Louise Tanner finally rested on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2020. She was born to Gladys Toles Williams and Jerome Harford Williams in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 13, 1938. Evelyn was a clever child, who preferred to remain in the play kitchen in her kindergarten classroom, rather than be promoted early to first grade. Evelyn was a quiet but committed student who graduated from Westinghouse High School in 1957. After high school Evelyn married her high school sweetheart, Bobby Tanner, and settled into domestic life. Evelyn and Bobby welcomed Kellye Je'Anne Tanner on July 29, 1961. Evelyn married her second husband, (Harold) Pierre Dean.

After working for the Department of Housing for the State of Pennsylvania for years, Evelyn decided to go back to school as a single mom. Evelyn went to night school and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. in Sociology, and then she graduated from Duquesne School of Law again attending classes at night. Evelyn pursued a career in law at Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Northrop Drumman, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She was also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Late in life, Evelyn, a dedicated Republican, ran for elected office in Columbia, Maryland. She did not win, but the shy little girl who preferred to stay in the play kitchen in kindergarten, became a self-assured lawyer who enjoyed social interactions with potential constituents.

Evelyn Louise Tanner leaves a small but proud family to celebrate her life: Kellye Je'Anne Tanner, beloved daughter; Gloria Jean Williams Harley, sister; George Robert Harley, brother-in-law; Gecole Louise Harley, niece; Ginnae Raeshele Harley, niece. Services at this time are private.