Submit a PhotoCalvin Tyde Tanner was born on August 20, 1959, in Gallup, New Mexico. He was the third of six children born to Don and Louise Tanner, who Tyde would certainly say were practically perfect parents. He grew up knowing he was loved and became a person who loved. He often said his parents’ one and only flaw was not delaying his kindergarten enrollment by a year, making him the youngest and the smallest in his class. To hear Tyde tell it, that decision alone cost him a career in the NFL.
Tyde left Gallup after high school to attend Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where he earned a degree in Business Marketing. He took dedicated time out of his college studies to serve a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in London, England. Truthfully, he didn’t take well to the damp cold, but he never let that dampen his love of the British people or Jesus. While Tyde made his career in Entrepreneurial Sales, he’d be the first to admit the greatest sale he ever made was convincing Linda Eckery to marry him.
Tyde and Linda were married in the Washington DC Temple on May 1, 1987, and moved to Gilbert, Arizona soon after—making it their forever home. They welcomed their first child in 1992 and six more followed in quick succession (as in seven kids in the span of nine years). He would often say “Seven is heaven” and he meant it. Tyde reveled in fatherhood. It was his truest calling in this life. He found magic in every moment and his kids grew up knowing they were magical. When it came to instilling confidence in his kids, Tyde cracked the parenting code. His love was loud and sure. His praise, abundant. He showed up for every event, big or small, because he understood that time is love—and his family had forever dibs on both.
In a family of storytellers, no one told a better (or taller) tale than Tyde—it wasn’t so much the content, but his laugh. That laugh deserves its own obituary. Oh, how we’ll miss it. It was a laugh that gathered you in, a laugh to wipe out worries and ward off weariness. A laugh that healed when times were tender and loss loomed large—one that could stitch together the pieces of a broken heart. His laugh was as infectious as it was loud, making it impossible not to join in. Two times in his life, Tyde laughed so hard that he actually passed out, causing those around him to worry (for several eternal seconds) that he might die laughing. He wasn’t worried, saying if he ever did, we’d know he went out on top.
If only life had been so kind. Tyde suffered a series of strokes over the past four years. Two and a half years ago, he suffered complications during a preventative surgery that left him unable to move or speak. Suddenly, the guy this world could never contain found himself confined to the walls of his bedroom. We’ll never fully know how deeply he despaired or how many prayers he whispered to God in his darkest moments, but we do know this: he never gave up on God and never stopped loving and trusting in Him. Tyde believed in a God of miracles. Maybe the miracle was each of us witnessing him never lose his hard-won faith.
Tyde taught us countless lessons these past two and a half years, but that was only a glimpse into the life lessons we learned from him. Here are just a few: love and laughter are inseparable friends—flood the world with both; stay loyal (Packers fan for life, baby!); Hallmark movies are underrated; nothing tops Triscuits and telling stories on the beach; love your people and while you’re at it, make everyone your people. Give until you can’t and then give some more. Tyde took his family’s long legacy of giving to heart and would willingly go without if it meant helping someone in need. Be the friend who always shows up, for the happy and the hard. And of course, when all else fails, laugh. Tyde was as generous with his love as he was his laugh. How lucky were we to have basked in both.
We’re feeling homesick for heaven as we picture the reunion Tyde’s having with his parents, his brother, Sheldon, and countless close friends and family we hold dear. While our world has gone too quiet, theirs is erupting in laughter and love. Tyde is survived by his wife, Linda, and his seven kids, Young (Diane), Jackson (Charlie), Beau, Sabrina, Dawson (Mary), Savannah, and Brooks, as well as his grandson and newest best buddy, Ace. He is also survived by his siblings Don Jr. (Pam), Mitch, Sterling (Brenda), Rachel (Matt), and Sheldon’s wife, Liliane.
In lieu of flowers, love like Tyde did. Loud and sure.
Funeral Service:
Tuesday, April 22nd at 10 AM
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
777 E. Elliot Road
Gilbert, AZ 85234
For those unable to attend, the service may be live-streamed:
Print Obituary
Service Location
Tyde, until we meet again my friend. You were a giant in my life, great friend, mentor, peer and example. We love you and your awesome family. Linda is the best wife, mom and friend ever. We are grateful for the Lord’s Plan of Salvation, love from Paul and Robin
Thank you Paul and Robin for your kind words. We love you.
I remember coming out of a theatre after watching a comedy and there were friends waiting for us both because they heard us laughing. I guess the “laugh” mantle has been passed on and if there are no objections I will gladly accept it, but Tyde’s a tough act to follow. Love you always.
This is a beautifully written obituary. Once again my condolences to the entire Tanner Family.
Words can’t describe how much Wes and I love you, Tyde and Linda, nor can they describe how much we admire both of you – for the pain you’ve endured and the hope you carried – for the strength during the most difficult challenge others could not have done. You are both angels. We truly love you. Dayton understands more than Wes or myself of your pain, Tyde. He loves you for living. And Linda, I love you for living( too. We love you.
Even though I never had the chance to truly know Tyde, I feel like I know him from all that has been shared with me about his amazing love for life, his big joy, and his contagious laughter. Tyde’s life clearly left a lasting imprint—not just in the big, brave ways he endured unimaginable hardship, but in the beautiful ways he made people feel seen, loved, and valued. I know that he is grateful for the loving care he received over the past few years. Now it’s his honor and priviledge to return that love and help from the other side. And he will, every chance he gets. I pray that your family will feel his presence with you and that you will each feel comforted. My love and prayers be with you. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thankyou Linda for your example of love and deep care and dedication. We will remember Tyde as the fun loving human he was. He never let hard work change who he was. I will take the challenge in lieu of flowers I will love like Tyde did. Thankyou for this beautiful obituary. Love to your large and beautiful family always.
We are thankful for the Tanner Family and truly blessed to have met Tyde. It was the love of football that brought our families together. Tyde included my children into his family as if they were his own. Always kind, funny, and generous. I will forever be grateful for such an opportunity to meet such a kind and giving soul. Appreciative for the memories. You will be missed.
Janna and the Joseph boys (DaRon and DeAndre)
I am sending love to the Tanner family and cherish the memories of all of the laughter shared.
What a beautiful obituary. I am compelled to write my love for Tyde and Linda and family. I knew Tyde from my early college years. I had the blessing of interaction with him and participating in his circles of laughter, his friends, the home on Canyon Road to ours lives in AZ. I have the blessed opportunity of knowing his dear wife, my friend Linda, since we were friends in Delaware at the age of 15yrs. I have been in constant awe of Tyde and Linda over these many many years. Towards the end, I have been filled with their example of strength and faith. They both have been a tremendous example to me of perseverance. My admiration and love runs deep. Tyde will be deeply missed. What a legacy he leaves for his family and those of us who knew him and love him. He will be with you all, always. May our Savior wrap you all up in his everlasting love is my prayer for the Tanner Family. Much love to each of you.
Our family was the recipient of Tyde’s generosity. We too have 7 children and struggled financially while raising them. When our daughters wanted to play club volleyball we literally couldn’t afford to pay for the fees. So, we came up with a plan of baking bread to sell to cover the cost of club ball. Our kids walked the neighborhood going door to door trying to sell their bread, brought it to school and sold to hungry students in class, and hit up our ward family to support their cause.
Tyde and Linda had just as many kids, and they too played sports and had fees to come up with, but they consistently bought not one loaf of bread, but FOUR loaves of bread each time! Tyde always made us feel like it was the best bread he’d ever had, but I know for sure that it definitely wasn’t that great!
He had nicknames for our kids that were fun and made them feel like they were more than just kids in his ward, but they were apart of his world. We missed the Tanner family so much when they went on their vacations! When Tyde had his accident at the beach in Virginia we were so worried about him! And then so amazed by his miracle and sooo grateful when they returned home after the longest time away! I admired the way the Tanner’s lived life on their own terms and their own schedule! What a great example of not conforming to the world, but instead living the life that makes most sense to you! Not many people make as big of an impression on the lives of so many as Tyde and Linda have, most importantly their children. The way I see it, they are one. Linda’s smile and spirit is equal to Tyde’s and together they’ve been such a force of joy, faith, and Christlike compassion. Missing Tyde til we see him again, and knowing that we will see him again is a great comfort! So much love for Tyde and the Tanner family!!
Love, Debbie Godard
Linda,
Condolences to you and Tydes family and friends. I just saw the news. Tyde and I were good friends through high school. We argued constantly about whose car was faster (mine). We even egged the drive in movie screen one time while they were playing a movie. Being with Tyde was always a fun time. I can still remember his constant laugh that always put me in a good mood. Tyde and I took a home ec cooking class together in high school and of course that was a fun disaster. When you spent any amount of time with Tyde, you were always happier and that says a lot.
Blessings,
Ron Maxwell