He is survived by his wife Deannie Gardner whom he married February 25, 2006. 6 sons, James Robert Gardner and spouse Tanya, Warren, AR; John Gardner and spouse Susan, Melbourne, AR; Michael Gardner and spouse Marsha, Warren, AR; Andrew Gardner and spouse Lorelei, Warren, AR; Dennis Light and spouse Peggy and Danny Light all of Warren, AR. Daughters Regina Lloyd and spouse Kenny, Monticello, AR; Jaycee Benson and Mallory Benson both of Hermitage, AR. and Rose Dimm, Monahan’s, TX. A brother Bill Gardner, Hermitage, AR and sisters Myrtle Tillman, Warren, AR and Florence Dickens, Benton, AR. 21 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
Jim was born and raised in the Blue Springs Community, near Banks on his family’s farm. He moved to Warren in his later teen years where he played basketball as well. Jim was a faithful member of Landmark Missionary Baptist Church where he served as youth director, he was president of the Calhoun county riding club for numerous years and served as a Bradley County Sheriffs Deputy.
Jim has served Bradley County as an EMT and a Paramedic, which he retired from in 2010 when he was diagnosed with colon cancer. Since his retirement, he still volunteered with EASI as a Paramedic and kept his certification and worked ballgames and public events for the company. He retired from EASI in 2010 as the Supervisor for Bradley County, which at times he supervised numerous counties and employees. Jim was recognized as a lifetime honorary member of the Arkansas E.M.T. Association a group of only 4 members. He was known by many as being kind and caring and was wonderful at his job. He also worked part-time for Frazer’s Funeral Home since his retirement.
He carried many roles throughout his lifetime. He served in Vietnam, where he received injuries that left him hospitalized in Germany for months away from his family. He had many stories to tell and touched many lives never meeting a stranger.
Since his retirement he recertified in law enforcement and served on the Bradley County Sheriff’s Auxiliary. He served as Bailiff at the local and district court levels. He had many friends and acquaintances from his years of public service.
Jim attended Landmark Church in Hermitage, where every Wednesday night he picked up 10 – 20 children for service at Landmark and made sure they had refreshments, which was usually a meal. He didn’t miss often, and he took chemo every Tuesday. He was truly an inspiration to us who can find an excuse not to do the things for our church or youth that we know we should.
Jim and his deceased wife Carolyn not only raised their five children, but took in four of Carolyn’s sisters children that were close to the ages of their oldest four and raised them as their own. Jim married his second wife Deannie with two small girls, and never made a difference that they were not his own. He defended them just as fast as his own, because they were his.
Jim’s heart was always very big. He was always there to help those less fortunate or just those in need. He had been battling cancer for almost five years and still was known at the chemo center for CARTI in El Dorado as the life of the room. He loved to pick and make fun and have fun. He was a true Christian, because through his battle with chemo he said that God has a plan and He will show me or it will be. It has been said that Jim Gardner was forgiving, selfless, passionate for those whose lives he's touched. Through his battling cancer and side effects of chemo, he still contributed and gave his all to anyone that crossed his path or called on him.
You might ask what sets Jim Gardner apart from other men? Well he was so well respected for his work as a Paramedic (or ambulance driver as so many refer to these wonderful folks), well if you’ve met Jim Gardner, you know, he was there for the duration, no matter what.
Funeral services were 2:00pm Thursday, July 9th at First Assembly of God Church by Rev David Inzer, Rev Jim Bales, Ben Woods speaking and Michael Gardner delivering a message. Shirley Outlaw and Georgia Jones the musicians and Jennifer Jones and T.J. Files the soloists. Burial was in McFarland Cemetery at Banks with Military and EMS honors extended. Pallbearers were Dr. Joe Hank Wharton, Stephen Smith, Hershel Tillman, Ronny Russell, Howard Bennett, Ben Woods, Jerry Lynn Hollingsworth and Anthony Gardner.
Honorary pallbearers were Billy Scroggins, Roger Scroggins, Kelly Burson, Thomas Frazer, Dr. Dichelle George, Pete Johnston, Eddie Scroggins, Jerry Scroggins, John Frazer, Dr. Kerry Pennington, Chief Randy Peek, Shannon Groves, Kim Roberts, Sheriff Rick Anders and the Bradley County Sheriff Office, Men of Landmark Missionary Baptist Church and the EASI Ambulance Service Team.
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