Connie Rae Tankersley passed away at her home in Alexander Valley surrounded by her family on March 20, 2017. She had Corticobasil Degeneration (CBD), a rare brain disease. Connie was 72 years old. Born April 5, 1944 in Gary, Indiana, her family relocated to CA in 1954. She was one of five graduates in 1962 from Geyserville High School, one of which was her future husband Robert Tankersley.
They married in 1964 and had three children. Connie worked at State Farm Insurance, The Healdsburg Tribune, and retired from Sonoma County Mental Health Department after 10 years. She worked full time and raised her children all whilst pursuing her A.A. degree from SRJC, finally graduating in 1992. She enjoyed traveling, going to Disneyland with her grandchildren, doing crafts with friends, and finagling a good deal at garage sales. She had a love for audiobooks, Thomas Kinkade artwork, and puzzles, but most important was her family.
Preceded in death by her daughter Michelle Diane Tankersley, parents Bill & Irene Winkler, her sister Sharon Winkler and her favorite aunt, Fern Winkler. Survived by husband Robert Tankersley, daughters Karen Tankersley & Nicole Blosser, son-in-law Brice Blosser, and 9 grandchildren: Mitchell, Ginée, Travis & Jacob Arreguin and Ashlee, Chelsea, Brileigh, Mackenzie & Audrey Blosser, and her siblings Dana Cavallo & J.B. Winkler.
Come share your memories of Connie with joyful hearts. A Celebration of Life will be held at 5 p.m. on May 9, 2017, at Alexander Valley Community Hall located at 5512 Hwy 128, Geyserville, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to UCSF Memory & Aging Center (MAC) online: makeagift.ucsf.edu/brain
Checks: UCSF Foundation, Lockbox 45339, San Francisco, CA 94145-0339 (include MAC Fund B1871 & Connie Tankersley on the memo line)
