Elizabeth Juanita Tanner-Gray known as "Skeet" received her wings on March 13, 2023, at Columbia St. Mary's Hospital surrounded by loved ones.

Elizabeth was born on October 3, 1960, to the union of Emma Elizabeth (nee: Wilkie) Tanner and the late Lawrence Tanner Sr. in Waukegan, Illinois.  She attended Waukegan East High School, graduating in 1978. Elizabeth accepted Christ at an early age where she attended Mt. Sinai Institutional Baptist Church in North Chicago, Illinois under the leadership of Bishop Solomon Smith.  After relocating to Racine, she attended Second Missionary Baptist Church.  Elizabeth later became a member of Zoe Outreach Ministries under the leadership of Pastor Melvin D Hargrove and volunteered as a Sunday School Teacher.

Elizabeth relocated to Racine, Wisconsin in 1980, she attended Gateway Technical College in 1991-1993, Milwaukee Area Technical College in 2002-2003 graduating from the Mortuary Science Program looking to pursue a career as a Funeral Director. On July 17, 1999, she was united in marriage to Archie O'Neal Gray.

Elizabeth was formerly employed with Bruch Funeral Home in Kenosha as an Apprentice Funeral Director from May 2003 until July 2005. She then gained employment with West Lawn Memorial Park as a Family Service Counsel August 2007 until February 2009. Skeet also was employed with Racine Unified School District as an Educational Assistant from October 1996 until 2012 taking a leave of absence after being diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She returned to work after becoming a "Breast Cancer Survivor."  She volunteered and worked with a youth football program called the Racine Ravens at a Cancer Awareness Football Tournament as a tribute to herself to help educated others on Breast Cancer Awareness.

She leaves to cherish her children:  Julian Mayfield and Shyla Turner.  Grandchildren:  Julian Mayfield Jr. and Fenyxx Trice.  Spouse:  Archie (Neal) Gray.  Her mother: Emma (nee: Wilkie) Tanner of Virginia.  Her siblings: Douglas Tanner of Wisconsin, Elaine Tanner-Carter of Alabama, Laverne Tanner of Illinois, Caroline (David) Tanner-Petty of North Carolina, Lawrence Tanner Jr of Arizona, Christine (Gabe) Walker of Virginia and Gregory (Karen) Wade-Tanner of Wisconsin.  She also leaves her Mother-in-law:  Kathleen Gray.  Sister-in-laws:  Carolyn Gray and Cassandra (Daryl) Carter both of Racine.  She also leaves behind her God Children:  Robert Mayfield Jr and Kenneth Carter Jr. "Special Sister's from Another Mother:  Charlene Mayfield, Ada Hamilton, and Janet McMorris. Special Friends:  Joyce (Pokey) Johnson, Karen Hawkins, Judy Beechem.  A host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was proceeded in death by her father Lawrence Tanner Sr. along with both Maternal and Paternal Grandparents.

Family and friends are invited to meet in the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Monday, March 27, 2023 for a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. A service celebrating her life and Homegoing will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Melvin Hargrove officiating.

Service Details

Family and friends are invited to meet in the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Monday, March 27, 2023 for a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

A service celebrating her life and Homegoing will follow at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Melvin Hargrove officiating.

Those wishing to watch the service via livestream may click on this link on Monday at 11:00 a.m. https://youtube.com/live/JJcxNQjYiLs?feature=share

• Due to music licensing, songs played during the service may be muted on the livestream and recording.  We are sorry for this inconvenience.