Leslie "Paul" Tanner, 81, of Port Arthur, Texas passed away Saturday, January 18, 2014 at Christus St. Mary Hospital. Paul was born November 29, 1932 in Meridian, Mississippi to Leslie Tanner and Mildred Peron Tanner. He was a lifelong area resident and a member of Central Baptist Church of Port Arthur. He was a retired maintenance foreman from Texaco. Paul was a member of Jefferson County Historical Commission and volunteered at the Museum of the Gulf Coast. His advocation was to walk McFadden Beach looking for artifacts. He was also a U.S. Army Korean Conflict veteran. Paul was preceded in death by his parents; mother of his children Carolyn Yvonne Barrier; and sister Bonnie Jean Sport. Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Nell Tanner of Port Arthur; two daughters, Kathryn Jean Dorris and Janis Lyn Tanner; one son, Paul Keith Tanner; brother-in-law, Harry Sport; four grandchildren, Brandon Tanner, Quentin Tanner, Jason Patton, and Sherri Meaux; two great-grandchildren, Ethan Meaux and Zach Patton; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 24, 2014 at Levingston Funeral Home in Groves with Dr. Phil Sigman, pastor of Central Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Thursday evening from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Friends wishing to make memorial contributions may send them to: Central Baptist Church, 4545 Hwy 73, Port Arthur, TX 77642.