Tanner Hayden Nazary

Tanner Hayden Nazary, age 16, passed away on February 15, 2024, at his home. Tanner was born at South Baldwin Hospital in Foley, Alabama, and spent most of his childhood growing up in the care of his loving grandparents, Jimmy and Nelda Nazary, in the Foley area. Tanner was a 10th grade student at Snook Christian Academy where he explored a variety of activities in high school from track to basketball to baseball and even chess. At the time of his death, Tanner, a smart young man and high-achieving student, was also participating in a dual enrollment program through Coastal Alabama Community College to earn credit for college courses as a high school student. He is remembered as a kind and polite young man filled with compassion for others and an inquisitive student with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. That quest for knowledge led Tanner to be an avid reader, enjoying a variety of book genres from history to classical fiction. He had plans to pursue a summer job at Books-A-Million, so he could both earn some money and enjoy scouring aisle after aisle of books. He was also a collector of facts, often sharing interesting and unusual pieces of knowledge with those around him. During many a car ride, one could consistently rely on him to ask, “Did you know….?” followed by some particular factoid that the listener did, in fact, not know before that conversation. Tanner was a deep thinker and very analytical and considered by his grandmother as an “old soul,” mature beyond his years. In the last few years, he was able to rekindle a relationship with his mom, and they often watched late night movies together and played games of chess, in which he could beat her blindfolded. Tanner loved his church and church family at Crossway Baptist Church in Foley, Alabama, and enjoyed singing old hymns and Fifth Sunday potluck meals. He was an Alabama football fan and toggled between supporting his grandfather’s favorite St. Louis Cardinals baseball team and the Atlanta Braves, whose games he was able to see on many occasions with his Atlanta relatives. He even attended Game 3 of 2021 MLB World Series in Atlanta where he wore his Ronald Acuna jersey and cheered on the Braves to a 2-0 victory over the Houston Astros, ultimately leading to a World Series Championship for the Braves. Tanner also enjoyed many a trip to his grandparents’, great-grandparents’, and aunt’s and uncle’s farms in Mississippi, filled with outdoor experiences from fishing to hunting, and yes, some chores to help with upkeep at the properties. On his most recent trip there, he enjoyed time with his grandfather target shooting and helping with the burn pile. Having grown up along the beautiful Gulf Coast, Tanner loved the water. He enjoyed time at the beach jumping the waves with his cousins and many an Orange Beach getaway with them as well where it was often difficult to get him out of the pool. He enjoyed movies, including the Star Wars and Marvel series, as well as historical films. He was a night owl, often venturing from his bedroom into the kitchen of his home for a late-night snack. Tanner is survived by his custodial grandparents Jimmy and Nelda Nazary; his mother Joy Nazary and brother Bruce Nazary; his Aunt Jeri Nazary Sute and Uncle Michael Sute and cousins Will Sute and Zach Sute, as well as many extended family relatives. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to a college scholarship fund in Tanner’s memory that will be set up by the family to be awarded to graduating senior in the Class of 2026 at Snook Christian Academy. As further details are not available at this time, please reach out to a member of the family or Snook Christian Academy for further information.

Tanner Hayden Nazary

September 11, 2007 - February 15, 2024