SunBird Personalities

Carla and Daryl Tanner

Carla and Daryl Tanner

Bob Neuman

Since recently purchasing a SunBird house on Cherry Hills Drive, Carla and Daryl Tanner have been extremely busy remodeling and changing many things. On the 22nd of May, they moved into a home last owned by a well-known couple, Doris and Norman Littrell. “We came to Chandler in 2013 to care for my mother,” said Carla.

Born in Maine, Carla and family soon went to live in southern California where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from a branch of Southern California University. However, after thinking it over, she chose not to teach. Instead, her career involved working for Bank of America and several credit unions. Her first job was when a small child, she would hang out in a bar owned by a relative and wash glasses behind the counter.

Daryl attended school in Utah. His high school days included an interest in thespian, physics, astronomy, football and wrestling. “I got hurt a lot,” he recalls. Once the wrestling coach told Daryl to take on the members of the team one at a time. “I put down 15 in a row and injured my back, which still hurts to this day.” During the Vietnam War, he failed to pass military entry due to the injury.

He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at Brigham Young University. His missionary duties for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints took him to Denmark for two years.

Daryl’s career has taken him throughout our country and into places like Russia. At times, he would be asked to speak in connection with his work. For 17 years, he was CEO of a software company.

Both being in the financial world brought them together when Daryl was Carla’s boss. “He was very good but also very demanding,” she remembered. His reply was that he recognized quality in her and wanted to bring out her highest potential. Their wedding was September 2, 2007.

Carla has two children and three grandchildren. Daryl has three of each. Besides Arizona, they have resided in Tennessee and Maryland.

Travels are extensive. The list includes 49 states (missing is North Dakota), Russia twice, Romania, Holland, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, England, Denmark, Brussels, Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Bermuda, Mexico and Canada.

Both are involved in prison missionary work. Daryl mentioned his work with a current prisoner at the Florence Prison. He also feels the punishment and incarceration are quite harsh and focuses on punishment rather than reform.

Questioned if they might like SunBird, Carla replied they would. “It is a place where the neighbors came and introduced themselves.” Like many residents, they will go north during the torrid summers. But catch them while they’re here. You’ll like what you see.