FORREST WAYNE GARDNER

FORREST WAYNE GARDNER

DEWEYVILLE, Texas- Services were held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, at Dorman Funeral Home in Orange, for Forrest Wayne Gardner, 85, Deweyville, who died Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, at Cherished Years in Orange. Burial was at Antioch Cemetery in Buna.

Survivors include his daughters, Mia Ruby Elledge and Patricia Ann Guidry; a son, Curtis Joe Gardner and Kerk; sisters, Helen Jean Marti, Opal Young and Edith Kay Marti; one aunt, Fontella Brown; “umpteen dozen” grandchildren and great-grandchildren and many members of extended family and friends who loved him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his wife and mother of his children, Ruby Gardner; his loving companion, Marjorie Wells; a daughter, Amelia Bonite Glenn and sons, Larry Dwaine (Garcia) Gardner and Mark Antonio (Watson) Gardner.

Mr. Gardner was born June 13, 1931, in Lamar, Mo., to Katherine I. (Twadell) and Thomas W. Gardner. He was a 1946 graduate of Lamar (Mo.) High School. In October 1950 he enlisted in the United States Navy and was sent to boot camp in San Diego, Calif. Once completing his time in boot camp he was sent to Japan in 1951, where he boarded the USS Hector AR until 1954 when his contract time was complete. He re-enlisted in Los Angeles, Calif. and was assigned to the USS Shangri La. After his time aboard he came to Greenville, where he worked as a U.S. Navy recruiter. He moved to Post, Fla., in 1958, where he boarded the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. During this time he managed to cross the Atlantic Ocean six times. From 1968 to 1969 he went to Vietnam and was aboard the USS Kitty Hawk Aircraft Carrier. Lieutenant Gardner received an honorable discharge while stationed in Orange and on July 6, 1970, he started his job as a machinist, retiring from James River in 1990 after 20 years.

He was a man who loved his family and would do anything for them. He also enjoyed the time he got to spend at the deer lease and on his four-wheeler and his fishing trips to Missouri with his friends and family. He was a strong man with a big heart, who was loved by everyone. He was a husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, who will be missed by many.