Howard Garner

DEXTER, Mo. -- Howard Duane Garner, 76, was born June 13, 1927, in Calico Rock, Ark., to Howard T. and Gladys Burns Garner. He died of cancer Monday, March 1, 2004, in Little Rock, Ark.

He was married to Emma Jean Gibbons of Bernie, Mo., 47 years. He resided in Dexter more than 40 years.

For most of his adult life, Mr. Garner was a part-time Church of Christ minister, teacher and song leader, helping in more than 30 churches in Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky and Oklahoma.

Howard Garner graduated from high school in Drumright, Okla., where he earned several athletic, civic and educational awards. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

His undergraduate degree was acquired from Harding College in Searcy, Ark., and his graduate degree from Oklahoma A&M (Oklahoma State University) in Stillwater.

Mr. Garner was a teacher, coach and high school principal in Bernie, Bloomfield, Gray Ridge/Richland and Clarkton, Mo., from 1951 to 1965. Until his retirement in 1993 he worked for the Forrest T. Jones Co. of Kansas City, Mo., as regional director of group plans for Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA).

He was an advocate of public education and is remembered by hundreds of Missouri teachers and students as an enthusiastic supporter of the noble teaching profession. He was a Republican.

He is survived by a son, Dr. Jeffrey Garner and wife, Judy, grandchildren, Laura, Annalea and Kevin of Little Rock; brothers, Jim Garner of Fort Worth, Texas, Joe Garner of Lubbock, Texas; and a sister, Myrldene Smith of Kingston, Okla.

A sister, Susie Garner Cruzan, preceded him in death.

Friends may call at Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter from 5 to 8 p.m. today.

The funeral will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday in the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Chapel. Presiding over the memorial service will be Dale Grissom, a minister of Dexter Church of Christ. Interment will follow in Chalk Bluff Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Jack Gillis, Larry Hillis, Gary Hicks, Stan Flowers, Tim Flowers and Earl Smith.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., at www.stjude.org.