Aletha (Ty) Tankersley, 98, of San Angelo went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 in San Angelo. The family will receive friends from 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. Friday, January 31, 2014 at Johnson's Funeral Home. The Graveside service will be 10:00 A.M., Saturday, February 1, 2014 at Fairmount Cemetery with Rev. Gini Christian officiating. 
Lovingly nicknamed "Ty" by her father, Aletha Mae Faught was born October 27, 1915 in Doss, Texas to John Francis and Wilhelmina Baethge Faught. She married Max Orel Tankersley SR., of Mertzon, on May 19, 1937, in the First Baptist Church of San Angelo. Together they had six children and almost twenty-two years of marriage until Max's tragic death May 11, 1959. Ty was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt devoted to her large and extended family. At the time of her death she was the last living of the ten children, (& daughters & sons -in-law) of Fayette and Annie Tankersley.
Ty embraced cooking and preparing big meals. She loved the fellowship of family & friends around a table or at a picnic down the creek or in the pasture. Ty had a creative streak and with determination, pursued sewing, quilting, & was a self-taught artist in many medium, and inspired several nieces & nephews to pursue art. She was active PTA member, class room mother for decades, a 4-H leader, and was active in First Methodist Church of Mertzon.
However, mom's biggest devotion was to the game of bridge. She and Max enjoyed playing with friends prior to his death, and she continued the passion of the game, belonging to several bridge clubs. She was known for overbidding, thereby making her partners nervous or worse, and then, somehow making an impossible game. Proof of these games were kept and highlighted on the kitchen refrigerator. The members of the Saturday Club and the Ding-a-Lings were among her best friends.
As most of her generation, living through the great depression and wars, mother was frugal & self-reliant & really, just plain hard-headed. She also had a twinkle in her eye for favored friends and nephews; and she had a stern bark if she didn't approve.
Ty was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Max; a son, Max Orel Tankersley, Jr., and granddaughter Catherine Sims Ellison. Ty is survived by her children, Annie Pruitt, of Mertzon, Sue Sims and her husband Ben of Paint Rock, Neil Tankersley, Gary Tankersley & his wife Diana, of Mertzon and Cindy McCammon and her husband Mike, of San Angelo; her Grandchildren, Amy Tankersley & husband Garren Hill, Will M. Tankersley and wife Ashley, Patrick Pruitt and wife Lori, Robyn Sims & husband Bob Ledford, Leslie Tankersley & husband Brandon Lay, Jeff Tankersley & wife Laura, Becky Wheeler Tankersley & husband Terry Feehan, Weir Tankersley, Michael McCammon Jr., Alexander McCammon, and seven Great Grandchildren. She is also survived by two beloved brothers, John Faught and his wife Shirley, of Midland, TX and Norman Faught, of Hobbs, N.M; and numerous nieces, nephews, family members and close friends. 
The family would like to extend their most sincere gratitude and appreciation to the staff of Royal Estates, the staff of Meadow Creek Nursing Home, the staff of Shannon Emergency Room, and Dr. Ty Hughston for the loving care given to Ty. As her children, we wish to express gratitude our many relatives and friends who lent their loyal care & support to our family during a difficult time. Donations may be made to the Concho Valley Home for Girls, the West Texas Boys Ranch, or The First United Methodist Church of Mertzon, 105 W. Juanita Ave., Mertzon, TX 76941. Family and friends may sign an online register book atwww.johnsons-funeralhome.com.