Carl Wayne Gardner

Funeral service for Carl Wayne Gardner will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 29, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church of Claremore, Visitation will be held 1-8 p.m., Wednesday, with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m. Burial with military honors by the U.S. Army will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery under the direction of the MMS-Payne Funeral Home & Cremation Service.

Carl Wayne Gardner went home to his Lord and Savior Friday May 23, 2014 after an extended illness in the Claremore Veterans Center.

He was the first born of the late Kenneth and Lolma (Reed) Gardner on August 3, 1931 in Claremore OK. He leaves behind his loving wife of the home, Jewel Gardner of 20 years; his one and only sister JoAnn Orr and husband Tommy of Claremore, OK; his three children of whom he was extremely proud of, Louis S. (Louie) Gardner and wife Terre Lee of Claremore, OK; Beverly Mordecai and husband James D. (Don) of Broken Arrow, OK; and Kenneth Ray (Kenny) Gardner of Claremore, OK; one step daughter of whom he claimed as his own, Cindy Hanner and her husband Wayne of Shawnee, OK. He was grandfather to eight, great-grandfather to seven, and he loved each and every one of them with all his heart.

Carl graduated from Sequoyah High School in 1949. Soon after high school, he served his country in the US Army during the Korean War. He received the Korean Service Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge.

Mr. Gardner continued his service to our nation for 32 years in the government with the United States Marshall Service. He took care of business, was tough and strong yet he had a tender heart and touched the lives of many; he had a joy for helping others and he never met a stranger. A friend and partner in work, Oneil Cobb said "Your Daddy, his word I could count on, and he did back it up. I couldn't trust any of the others like I trusted your Daddy, we were in battle like brothers".

Carl Gardner was an active member of the Sageeyah Baptist Church in Claremore. During his life he served as Post Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and was a 32nd degree Mason and lifelong member of the Will Rogers Masonic Lodge.

In the day Carl, like his father enjoyed music, especially the fiddle; he and many family members would gather and play their favorite tunes. In his retirement years he really enjoyed visiting his family and friends. Other than reading the Bible, there was nothing more enjoyable to him than calling his children on the phone throughout the day.