CONSTANCE LOUISE HELFRICK GARNER

CONSTANCE LOUISE HELFRICK "CONNIE" GARNER, a resident of Cookeville, Tennessee, former resident of Somerville and the Grand Valley Lakes Community in Hardeman County and wife of the late Fayette Academy Coach and Educator, Samuel G. Garner, died at 5:15 A.M. Thursday, November 6, 2008 at the National Healthcare Center in Cookeville. She was 87 years of age.

Funeral services for Mrs. Garner were conducted at 2 P.M. Sunday, November 9th at the Graveside with Chaplain John Wilcher of the Methodist Hospital Systems in Memphis, officiating. Interment followed in the Somerville City Cemetery. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-Main Chapel of Somerville.

A native of Springfield, OH, Mrs. Garner was born November 24, 1920 the daughter of the late Harry E. Helfrick and Amy Elnor Taylor Helfrick. She was a graduate of the Springfield Ohio High School in 1937 and continued her college education at Savannah, GA. Mrs. Garner was married March 17, 1943 to Samuel Gideon Garner, retired Educator, Athletic Coach and Army Veteran who preceded her in death January 2, 1995.

Mr. and Mrs. Garner were residents of Somerville for a number of years while Mr. Garner was associated with Fayette Academy and Mrs. Garner served as Secretary for the John S. Wilder Youth Development Center in Somerville. After his retirement, they resided in the Grand Valley Lakes Retirement Community of Hardeman County and Mrs. Garner was employed by the Dunn's Sporting Goods Store in Grand Junction before her retirement in 1997. Mrs. Garner later moved to Cookeville, TN to reside with a son.

A member of the LaGrange Episcopal Church, Mrs. Garner's interests included flower gardening, sewing and knitting. She will be remembered as an artistic person with a deep devotion and love for her family.

Survivors of Mrs. Garner include her daughter, Susan Garner Kostakis of Grand Valley Lakes; two sons, Robert Gary Garner of Garland, TX and James Steve Garner of Cookeville, TN; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The family request that Memorials be directed to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, Phone: 1-800-805-5856 or to Disabled Veterans, C/O DAV Memorial Program, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301, Phone: 1-877-426-2838 Ext. 3302.