The Barr family. Tanner, holding Alivia, and Emily, holding Isabella. (Courtesy Emily Barr)

“Mommy, when is Daddy coming home?”

The most tragic of tragedies blindsided Emily Barr in the wee hours of a summertime Saturday morning.

She got the call at 1:37 a.m. It was Cleveland Clinic Mercy Health in Canton. Her husband, father of her children and best friend was gone. In an instant. Just like that.

A motorcycle accident in Canton near routes 77 and 62 would claim the life of Tanner Barr. It happened on Friday, Aug. 9. He was kept on life-support until that Sunday, so that organs could be donated. He had turned 26 just a week earlier. According to the family, the Canton Police Department-led investigation remains ongoing. Tanner was a longtime motorcycle enthusiast.

Tanner and Emily were Leetonia High School sweethearts. Following graduation in 2017 they both proudly served in the United States Navy during the Persian Gulf War. They married on March 7, 2018.

Jump ahead a half-dozen years and the Barrs were a consummate family, living in Salem. Tanner was a member of Carpenters Local Union No. 171. Emily was a member of the oncology staff at Mercy Health in Boardman. They were the parents of two effervescent little girls with a third on the way.

Members of Greenford Christian Church, the Barrs were bonded by their faith, love for each other and their children. Or as Tanner called them “His Girls,” 5-year-old Isabella “Izzy” and 4-year-old Alivia.

And, if this tragedy couldn’t get any more painful, Emily is pregnant with a third daughter. Lainey is due at any time. She will never know her dad.

“It’s easy to be angry and bitter,” Emily confided. “I’m lost as to why somebody so young had to go. He was great to the kids and so hard-working. He did everything for us. I was ready to be a stay-at-home mom and raise my children and watch them grow.”

Donating organs wasn’t surprising.

“He would of done anything for anybody,” Emily said. “This goes back to the service, protecting and serving. Giving someone a better chance at life would be what he had wanted.”

An outpouring of community support is appreciated.

“I’m thankful, very thankful for everyone,” Emily stressed. “A lot of people are reaching out, stopping by and helping with the kids.”

“He was such a great guy,” said his sister, Chelsea Faloba. “The funeral and calling hours were so packed. So many people knew and cared for him. It was amazing.”

She indicated that a Go Fund Me page had surpassed $20,000.

“There are good and bad days,” Emily said when asked about how Izzy and Alivia are adjusting.

“They ask ‘when is he coming home?’ I tell them that he is with Jesus and one day, some day, we will see him again. But that is going to be a long, long time.”

Tanner rests at Woodsdale Cemetery in Hanoverton.

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Benefits for the Barr family

Friday, Sept. 13: 4-8 p.m., Salem Subway at Salem Commons, 2586 E. State St. (besides

Dollar Tree). Fifty percent of sales will be donated to the family.

Saturday, Sept. 14, 3-7 p.m., VFW Post 5532, 575 S. County Road, Washingtonville.

Spaghetti dinner, dine-in or to-go. Bake sale, Chinese auction, 50/50 raffle, kids face painting.

All money raised will go the family. To donate baked goods or baskets for the Chinese auction,

contact Charlotte at 330-902-4483 for the Mahoning County area or Carol Mellot at 330-83106797

for the Highlandtown area.