Joseph Charles Garner
November 9, 1929 — March 22, 2012
Joseph “Joe” Garner, resident of Somerville, former resident of the Oakland Community and U.S. Veteran, died Thursday morning, March 22, 2012 at the National Health Center in Somerville where he had been a resident for seven weeks. He was 82 years of age and died following a three month illness.
Services of Remembrance with Military Honors for Mr.
Garner were conducted at 11 AM Monday, March 26
th
at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Rev. Loyd Shelton officiating. Interment followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64. Arrangements were provided by the Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes and Cremation Center – West Chapel of Oakland.
Mr.
Garner was born November 9, 1929 in Memphis. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Caldwell Garner and Nellie Montgomery Garner. He received his education in the Shelby County Public School System and continued his education at Christian Brothers College in Memphis. He served his country in the United States Navy from 1947 to 1950 and was married April 22, 1950 to the former Ruth Brown of Memphis. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years on May 17, 2007.
Mr.
Garner
was a resident of Memphis before moving to Fayette County in 1973. He was a former resident of the Oakland Community for many years before moving to Somerville
. He was a Christian and was a livestock producer in Fayette County for 25 years before his retirement in 1995. He also served as Apartment Manager for a number of years at the Oakwood Manor in Somerville.
Mr.
Garner
will be remembered as a person who loved life and remained active until his recent illness. He was well-known in Memphis area rodeo circles in earlier years and enjoyed both roping and bull-riding
, serving as a 1959 champion and the 1961 champion for bull-riding and steer wrestling. Mr. Garner also served as a Memphis Fire Fighter from 1953 until 1961. He will be remembered for his love and concern for animals and was an avid reader who enjoyed nature and outdoor activities.
Mr.
Garner
is survived by his two sons, Paul Garner of Memphis and John M. “Mike” Garner of Somerville, one grandson, Erik Michael Garner of Lakeland and one great-granddaughter, Tatum Garner also of Lakeland.
The family requests that memorials be directed to the Fayette County Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 44, Rossville, TN 38066.