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Tanner Austin Stephens

Tanner was a typical 21 year old Texas boy. He was intelligent and had a curiosity for life beyond his years from a young age. He was an athlete and had a passion for most sports, but excelled in wrestling and football... and was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan. Tanner was a gentle soul and had a deep love for his family. He was a socializer and made friends easily. He had a large network of friends and had a heart for giving the best of himself to everyone - whether through a kind word of encouragement or an act of selflessness. Tanner also was suffering from his own struggles with consequences of bad decisions and addiction. He never showed his own pain and struggle - always offering encouragement or support to others. Tragically, Tanner passed away at the age of 21 on December 3, 2020 due to a fentanyl overdose. His death has left an emptiness that will never be filled this side of heaven for so many family and friends. Tanner always admired his big brother Justin. His pride and greatest joy was being an uncle to his nieces and nephew Austyn, Asher and Alyxiia Moore. He also took great pride in being a big brother to his younger twin siblings - brother and sister Kelly & Karli! He left behind a grief stricken dad, Kenneth, mom, Stephanie and many extended family members and friends. Tanner is remembered most for his infectious smile, compassionate heart, lifting people up even when he was at a low point in life and his love for everyone he met, especially his family. Tanner was a hugger and loved giving and receiving hugs. He had recently added a new tattoo on his forearm to his collection, "family" - he was really proud of that one. We will forever be Tanner's family and our prayer is to bring honor to his memory and share his love through God's word - one bible at a time!

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For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23

Why we highlight this verse in every bible we distribute.

On the day that Tanner passed away, the first part of this scripture was the verse of the day on a desk calendar of a family member. It upset her a great deal until the full verse context was shared and reminded us in our grief of God's promise that His gift to believers is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ. What a promising reassurance!

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Sharing Tanner With the World

Alex Moore

Tanner there's not a day that goes by that I don't think about you. I miss you and love you brother. Keep watching over our family. Tanner is getting so big - about to start walking. Till l see you again, brother l love you!

Ben Anguish

thank you for being one of my best friends i’m sorry i can’t be there but i watched and will watch over all your family til i’m gone my self love you brother til we meet again.

Bird Rae Lauren

Thank you Tanner for being someone who would drop everything just to make someone else feel less lonely. I’m so sorry no one understood how bad you were hurting. I wish I could have at leave one more day running around with you listening to your music and watching you act goofy again. I cherish the time I got to spend with you. You have truly taught me that life is too short. I love you Tanner say hi to my granddad for me

Michelle Andrews-York

Oh Tanner, how I wish we had another day working in my backyard. We had some good laughs like the day you climbed on the roof to remove the old dish network satellite. You were so scared and I was praying you didn’t fall off the roof. When you got back on the ground we both just busted out laughing. I’ll miss our project days. Til I see you again, love ya always !!!!

Tanner with his dad, Kenny & big brother, Justin

From Idea to Reality: The Evolution of Tanner's Bible Ministry

Tanner was a hugger - he gave the best of love to everyone, but family was most important to him. His death has left a void in our lives we will never fill this side of heaven. But, we know that God is hugging him as we can't anymore. In his last years of life, Tanner was proud to share that he had read the entire bible. He had a love for God's word and a longing to live God's will over his life, but his life was cut short. We will never understand, but we know God had bigger plans for Tanner. We know he is smiling down on us! This ministry was envisioned and brought to life by his dear grandmommy, Susan Boyd Lyles. Our goal through this ministry is to share Tanner's love through God's word with as many people as possible!

Letter to Tanner

Tanner,

You will never realize the hole you’ve left in our hearts. Waking up and realizing this is not a nightmare and the finality of this has been overwhelming. My tears just flow freely. My heart aches for losing you and all that you could have been here on this earth. I wish we had more time. I wish I would have realized that the demons you were fighting were taking such a toll…. but, you hid it so well. You never lost your heart to it…you always continued to care and love others and worry about others…. even though you were hurting yourself so badly. When I think of you…I don’t remember any of that – I remember your kind heart, your extreme love for others, your beautiful smile and handsome face and you never let the demons that you were fighting take those things from you. I guess that is why I didn’t realize they were so present. I’m so thankful for our last visit – as brief as it was, and unexpected, I’m thankful for the things we got to say, that I got to see that handsome face, that you still looked so strong and beautiful, that you could still smile thru the hurt and that I got to hug you as we said our final words to each other here on this earth, “I love you”. I will forever cherish that. I will forever long for just one more…. everything with you. We will never get to see you finish your success story here, we will never get to see you get married, have your own children – oh, how you loved kids and were so great with them all, and continue to grow into all you could have been and done. I know you and Dad had an awesome reunion when you arrived, but…. I sure miss you here. I always told you that you were going to break all the girls hearts one day, well you sure have broken this girls heart. I love you, Tanner. I always have and always will. You will forever be 21 here. Save my spot! Love you forever, Aunt Sherry

Tanner with his dad, Kenny

Tanner's Bible Ministry - What we do, how we share

Transforming Lives One Bible at a time in Memory of Tanner

Since the creation of this ministry, we have shared over 400 bibles with local churches, rehabilitation facilities, jail facilities, shelters for men & women and with individuals in need of God's word.

We have distributed the KJV in English, Spanish, Awards bibles, Large Print bibles, Teens and Kids bibles.

Tanner with his mom, Stephanie

Tanner's Memorial Service

https://www.facebook.com/TheWhiteFamilyFuneralHome/videos/715691889086432

Uncle Tanner with his nieces and nephew

Remembering Tanner

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1480403159116493...

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