J. B. Tanner

J.B. Tanner, longtime Indian trader and friend of the Native American people, died Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008, in Farmington, at the age of 84. J.B. was born Aug. 24, 1924, in Phoenix, Ariz. He grew up in the Farmington area, attended school up to the age of 16 and then moved on to learning the family business of Indian trading. At age 18, he served in the U.S. Air Force and became a gunner on a B-29. After the war, he returned to Farmington and married Lorain Schamp. Together they spent the next decade working at a number of trading posts on the reservation including Keams Canyon and Ganado, Ariz. In 1957, he joined his brothers and parents in building the Navajo Shopping Center in Gamerco, just north of Gallup, a business that would forever revolutionize the Indian trading business. J.B. is credited with changing the then-existing barter system that had long been associated with the Indian trading business, to a cash system. He also was one of the few non-Navajos who managed to speak the Navajo language like a native. J.B's ability to speak Navajo so fluently allowed him to be instrumental in airing the first Navajo live remote broadcast on KGAK radio, and then in later years he produced the J.B. Tanner Show, becoming a radio celebrity. J.B was well known for coining the phrase, "It'll be pretty good all right" which he used often in his radio advertisements, along with a song he always sang on the radio, "Get away Chevrolet." Throughout the course of his life's work, J.B. was highly respected by the Navajo people for his God-given ability to embrace them and support their many talents. J.B. spent the remaining 25 years of his business life in the Navajo Rug Business, 8 miles north of Gallup at Yahtahey, where he bought and sold more Navajo rugs than anyone in the industry. He was very involved with Alcoholics Anonymous and was an inspiration for thousands of Native Americans in the Gallup area who credit him with helping them conquer alcoholism. He was a generous man who accomplished amazing things in his lifetime. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends. J.B. was preceded in death by his mother, Stella McGee Tanner; father, Ruell (Chunky) Lehi Tanner; brothers, Bob Tanner, Jerry Tanner, Don Tanner and Rick Tanner; and first wife, Lorain Schamp Tanner. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Tanner of Farmington; brothers, Joe Tanner and Ellis Tanner of Gallup; sister, Dorothy Campbell of Mesa, Ariz.; his four children, Kay Bennett and husband, Elvis, Sherry Tanner and John Tanner, all of Farmington, and daughter, Kathy Tanner, who lives in Gallup. He also is survived by nephew, Joe Tanner Jr. and wife, Julie; nieces, Stephanie Quiroz and husband, Dave, and Celeste Allen and husband, Michael; and by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. J.B.'s funeral services have been entrusted to: Brewer, Lee & Larkin Funeral Home 103 E. Ute St. Farmington, NM 505) 325-8688