Norma Ann Tanco

Ann Ray Tanco peacefully passed away on October 15, 2025, at 86. She was known for her strength of character, love of country, sense of style, and love of gardening. Ann was an adored wife, mother, and grandmommie.

Ann was born in 1938 in the small East Texas town of Gilmer, TX to Anna Lula Stephens and Norman Wilson Ray and was the oldest of two girls.

Ann was a bright and inquisitive child, who learned a sense of style and appreciation of fashion from a creative mother that designed and sewed her beautiful dresses and clothes for most of her young life. She lived in many towns and cities growing up, including Gilmer, Trinity, Austin, and Henderson, due to her father's business and educational pursuits. She attended William B. Travis High School in Austin through her junior year and graduated from Henderson High School in 1957, during the fabulous 50's decade of poodle skirts, sweater sets, soda fountains and sock hops. After graduating she pursued a career in modeling, which brought her to Dallas where one night at a dance club she just happened to meet a great dancer and the love of her life, Raymond. They danced the night away and fell in love, eloping only six weeks after meeting. Together they had three children and many more years of happiness and blessings. She continued to model for a few years and then moved into the merchandising side of fashion, eventually owning her own wholesale fashion accessories and handbag business, retiring in 1998. In her free time she loved to watch old Hollywood movies and passed that love of old movies to her kids. While her husband golfed, she enjoyed gardening up until age 85 and always had the prettiest yard in the neighborhood with lots of beautiful flowers. She also enjoyed traveling and league bowling with her husband.

Ann is preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Raymond Winston Tanco.

She is survived by her three children: Stephen Michael Tanco and spouse Yany Hoang Tanco, David Winston Tanco and spouse Marlene Dupre Tanco, and Katrina Ann Tanco Suits and spouse Michael David Suits; six grandchildren: Allison Marie Tanco Borts and spouse Michael Borts, Sarah Elizabeth Tanco, Michael Norman Tanco, Brandon Michael Suits, Olivia Ann Suits, Tyler David Suits; and sister, Patti Ray Wright and spouse James Wright.