Janet Coats Tanner: A Pioneer Heart in Granger

The Life of Janet Coats Tanner (1856–1932)

Janet Coats was born in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland, on June 1856, the daughter of William Coats and Elizabeth Dick. She came from a family deeply influenced by faith, sacrifice, and devotion to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Her mother, Elizabeth, was the first of her large family to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and her conviction and steadfastness eventually brought both the Dick and Coats families into the gospel fold.

As a child, Janet was baptized alongside her mother and quickly developed her own testimony. She often recalled sitting at her mother’s knee, listening to missionaries share the gospel and feeling the Spirit confirm its truth. One of the most defining moments of her youth came after a tragic accident with her cousin, James Brown, when both children were accidentally poisoned with a deadly oil. Janet’s hair fell out, and the doctors declared her cousin beyond hope. Her faithful grandmother longed for priesthood blessings, and miraculously, Elder Nicholas Hood was prompted to visit the family that very day. He administered to the children, and James recovered while Janet’s hair grew back more beautiful than before. This remarkable healing became a turning point that influenced many relatives to join the Church.

Janet’s early years were not easy. Her father, who worked in the coal industry, lost his arm in a tragic accident and later died from another. After his passing, her widowed mother prepared to emigrate to America with her aging parents and children, seeking Zion in the Salt Lake Valley. At just 16 years old, Janet carried the burden of helping provide for her family, working long hours for little pay and often walking miles home to share her earnings.

Once in Utah, Janet’s industrious spirit shone. She worked at the Walker House, Salt Lake’s only hotel at the time, and contributed faithfully to her family’s needs. On a visit to her mother’s home in Taylorsville, she attended a Sunday School party where she met a young man named Stewart Tefft Tanner. A simple exchange about cheese led to courtship, and the two were married on June 4, 1877.

Together, they began their married life in Granger, Utah, in a humble one-room log home that Janet transformed into a place of warmth, beauty, and love. Over time, as their family grew, so did their home—eventually becoming a handsome two-story brick house across from the Monroe School. They were among the first in Granger to have running water in their home, a telephone line, and electric lights.

Janet raised eight children, managed their household through hardship, and became known for her compassion and hospitality. Her door was always open—whether to friends, neighbors, strangers in need, or her children’s playmates. She reared not only her own family but also cared for her younger brother after her mother’s passing. Many remembered her for her gift of healing hands, her ability to soothe the sick, and her unwavering faith in the power of prayer.

She also gave much of her time to the Church. In her later years, she was called as Primary President in the Poplar Grove Ward at age 65, serving nearly three years. Earlier, she had been a Relief Society Stake Aid in the Granger Ward.

Janet had a particular gift for making peace and binding family together. Her grandchildren recalled her as tender, loving, and endlessly generous. Christmas in her home became a treasured family tradition, where all her children and grandchildren gathered around her. She was known for her ability to make everyone feel important and cherished, whether through a kind word, a sweet treat, or her ever-present smile.

In 1927, Janet and Stewart celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary surrounded by family and friends. They spent their final years moving between Salt Lake and Granger, enjoying visits with their large family. Stewart passed away in July 1931, and Janet followed one year later on July 6, 1932, at the home of her daughter Bessie in Granger.

Janet Coats Tanner’s legacy is one of faith, resilience, charity, and motherhood. She truly embodied the art of making a house into a home and of transforming strangers into friends. Her influence extended through generations, not only in her posterity but also in the community she helped build and strengthen in Granger.