Obituary for Richard Doyle "Rick" Gardner
Mr. Richard Doyle “Rick” Gardner, age 67, of Jefferson City, Mo., passed away on Sunday, November 8, 2020 at his home.
Rick was born on March 11, 1953 in Jefferson City, Mo., the son of Herbert W. Gardner and Patsy J. Reed Smith. He was married on February 8, 1977 in Tempe, Az. to Ranae D. Hawkins who survives at the home.
A lifelong resident of the Central Missouri area, Rick attended school in Tuscumbia, Mo
In 1994, Rick retired from Bryan’s Mobile Home Service. There he serviced and set mobile homes. During his working career, he also worked for Sunrise Gardens until 1984.
Rick found peace outdoors and could often be found fishing, hunting squirrels and rabbits, and taking his children and grandchildren gigging for frogs. Rick was a very talented woodworker. He built birdhouses, wishing wells, and playhouses for his grandchildren. Rick also enjoyed building trailers and restoring trucks. Rick loved traveling to Arizona and Mississippi, spending time with his aunts and uncles. Rick also enjoyed playing cards with family and friends.
Rick was an outspoken man, and he called it like he saw it. He had a unique sense of humor and you could trust anything that he told you. Rick would give the shirt off of his back to anyone.
Rick’s family holds onto many memories of Rick and he will be greatly missed.
Survivors include: his loving wife, Ranae; three children, David Gardner (wife, Courtney) of Versailles, Mo., Elizabeth Sherrell (husband, Scott) of Jefferson City, Mo., and Rebekah Henley (husband, Rob) of Versailles, Mo; two siblings, Herbert Gardner, Jr. of Jefferson City, Mo, and Don Reed (wife, Cindy) of the Lake of the Ozarks, Mo; eight grandchildren, Zachary and Xander Evans, Jakeb and Iris Gardner, Angela Clark, Selena, Paisley, and Sahara Carpio; and one great-grandson, Tucker.
Rick was preceded in death by: his parents; one sister, Rhonda Loveall; one brother, Michael Reed; an infant brother; and step-father: Sherrill Reed.
Visitation will be held on Friday, November 20, 2020 from 12:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Freeman Mortuary. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to wear personal masks or other personal protective equipment while in attendance.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Friday, November 20, 2020 at Freeman Mortuary with The Reverend Taylor Whitmore officiating. Graveside services and interment will be held at Lane Union Cemetery in Linn, Missouri.
A webcast of the funeral service will begin at 1:15 p.m. Friday for friends that are not able to attend by going to his memorial page on Freeman Mortuary’s website. Friends may mail sympathy cards to the funeral home or leave condolences online to be given to his family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Richard Gardner Memorial Fund.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary.
Rick was born on March 11, 1953 in Jefferson City, Mo., the son of Herbert W. Gardner and Patsy J. Reed Smith. He was married on February 8, 1977 in Tempe, Az. to Ranae D. Hawkins who survives at the home.
A lifelong resident of the Central Missouri area, Rick attended school in Tuscumbia, Mo
In 1994, Rick retired from Bryan’s Mobile Home Service. There he serviced and set mobile homes. During his working career, he also worked for Sunrise Gardens until 1984.
Rick found peace outdoors and could often be found fishing, hunting squirrels and rabbits, and taking his children and grandchildren gigging for frogs. Rick was a very talented woodworker. He built birdhouses, wishing wells, and playhouses for his grandchildren. Rick also enjoyed building trailers and restoring trucks. Rick loved traveling to Arizona and Mississippi, spending time with his aunts and uncles. Rick also enjoyed playing cards with family and friends.
Rick was an outspoken man, and he called it like he saw it. He had a unique sense of humor and you could trust anything that he told you. Rick would give the shirt off of his back to anyone.
Rick’s family holds onto many memories of Rick and he will be greatly missed.
Survivors include: his loving wife, Ranae; three children, David Gardner (wife, Courtney) of Versailles, Mo., Elizabeth Sherrell (husband, Scott) of Jefferson City, Mo., and Rebekah Henley (husband, Rob) of Versailles, Mo; two siblings, Herbert Gardner, Jr. of Jefferson City, Mo, and Don Reed (wife, Cindy) of the Lake of the Ozarks, Mo; eight grandchildren, Zachary and Xander Evans, Jakeb and Iris Gardner, Angela Clark, Selena, Paisley, and Sahara Carpio; and one great-grandson, Tucker.
Rick was preceded in death by: his parents; one sister, Rhonda Loveall; one brother, Michael Reed; an infant brother; and step-father: Sherrill Reed.
Visitation will be held on Friday, November 20, 2020 from 12:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Freeman Mortuary. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to wear personal masks or other personal protective equipment while in attendance.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Friday, November 20, 2020 at Freeman Mortuary with The Reverend Taylor Whitmore officiating. Graveside services and interment will be held at Lane Union Cemetery in Linn, Missouri.
A webcast of the funeral service will begin at 1:15 p.m. Friday for friends that are not able to attend by going to his memorial page on Freeman Mortuary’s website. Friends may mail sympathy cards to the funeral home or leave condolences online to be given to his family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Richard Gardner Memorial Fund.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Freeman Mortuary.