Jack R. Gardner, 77, of Bluff City, Tenn., passed away surrounded by family and friends on Thursday, July 10, 2014, at his home. He was born on May 20, 1937, in Greeneville, Texas.
Jack was a member of Chinquapin Grove Baptist Church and he spent the majority of his life serving his LORD and SAVIOR JESUS. He was a member of the Gideons. Jack was Chief Engineer, for the Department of Communications, for 30 years, at East Tennessee State University and owner of the Chinquapin Corporation. He enjoyed football, fishing, reading, bird watching and painting.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Alice Sigman Gardner and Emma Mae McGuffey Barger; a sister, Mabel Gardner Hawkins; and two brothers, Paul McGuffey and C.W. McGuffey.
Jack is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Arvella Lyon Gardner; son, Mike Gardner and wife, Briana; daughters, Beth Silver and husband, Randy, Jessica Stanley and husband, Phillip, and Melissa Gardner; grandchildren, Amy Crowder (Ronnie), Amber Johnson (Matt), David Gardner (Michelle), Jonas Stanley (Audrey), Jared Silver, Carl Gardner, Adam Fortner (Vanessa), Randy Silver (Brooke) and Chris Silver (Kym); and great-grandchildren, Autumn, Isaac, Anna, Jaylyn, Takoda, Hannah, Skylar, Chase, Aiden and Adam. He is also survived by his brother, Bill McGuffey; sisters, Bobby Barnett and Barbara Pokladnik; and several nieces and nephews.
Jack’s loving and generous kindness will be greatly missed.
Graveside services for Mr. Gardner will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 13, in the Sunrise Cemetery, Bluff City, with the Rev. Jamie Ferguson and the Rev. Rusty Verran officiating. Music will be provided by Phillip Stanley. Interment will follow the service. Active pallbearers, who are requested to assemble at the funeral home at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, will be David Gardner, Jonas Stanley, Jared Silver, Carl Gardner, Stanley Scoggins and Tom Headley. Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Boling, Robert Watson, Mac Lyons, Danny Stanley, Jupe Lingerfelt, Virgil Bennett, Gary Cole, Elbert Nichols, Lonnie Sigman, Bobby Sossoman and Charles Miller. The family would like to thank many friends for all of their kindness, including Dr. Moulton, Dr. Hamati and Chinquapin Grove Baptist Church. The family appreciates the kindheartedness of Jack’s special caregivers, Evelyn Redwin, Ben Haskins, Jessica Miller and Jackie Murray. Words cannot express the family’s thanks for the compassion shown to Jack by Caris Hospice and Mountain Home VAMC Hospice Team. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Chinquapin Grove Baptist Church Youth Fund, Bluff City, Tenn. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Friends may also visit with the family at his residence. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 2:30 p.m. Sunday to go to the cemetery. Condolences may be e-mailed to mfc@chartertn.net.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Gardner family.