Ray Gardner, age 55, passed away January 21, 2020 at Christus Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs. He was born to James and June Orum Gardner March 8, 1964 in Greenville.
Ray worked for many years as a meat cutter and meat market manager at Winn Dixie He decided he could serve his neighbors in the North Texas area better by changing careers, so he became a roofing contractor. Ray attended Wolfe City ISD schools and graduated from Wolfe City High School. He was active in FFA. He enjoyed shooting sports, gardening, raising goats and chickens and working with his dad raising cattle and farming. Basically he enjoyed anything that involved tractors.
He married his true love, Tina Wilson, on Valentines day in 1992 in Hemstead, Arkansas. He was an active member of Sulphur Bluff Baptist Church.
Ray is survived by his wife Tina, children: Scotty, Zachary, Mickey, Michael, Brady, and Jamy. He is also survived by his siblings: Faye Wallace, Barbara Woodruff and husband Joe, Loretta Luckett and husband Bryan, Charolette Gardner, Melia Garner and husband Darrin, Pam Perkins and husband Jerry, and David Gardner and wife Kara, numerous nieces and nephews, grandson Hunter Gardner, in-laws Emmitt & Gail Wilson, Ed Oetting, Annette Loper and Husband Tim, Michael Wilson and wife Katie, and Eric Wilson and wife Lisa. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Cathy June Gardner, nephew James Fenn, sister-in-law Joyce Oetting and his grandparents.
Visitation will be 1:30 p.m. Sunday, January 26, 2020 at Cross Trails Cowboy Church in Fairlie. The funeral service will be conducted by Pastor Mark Bryant at 3:00 P.M. following visitation at the church. Interment will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Wolfe City.
Pallbearers will be Brandon Luckett, Bryan Luckett, Rubicel Macedo, Kevin Brown, Jamy Giles, Tim Loper, David Gardner, and Scott Ward. Honorary pallbearers will be Mark Greer, John Gotcher, PeeWee Woodard, Randy Manning, Bill George, and Ray’s nephews: Dylan Wilson, Dakota Wilson, Ty Woodruff, Jason Wallace, Cody Wallace.
Donations to help the family with final expenses are being collected at any Alliance Bank location.
Sincere sympathy, thoughts and prayers to Tina & family . So sad to hear of Ray’s passing. He will be missed. He is home with The Father. Prayers for comfort and strength during this time. Jim & Lil Guilkey & Guilkey Gamily
I remember Ray from our childhood days at Wolfe City. Barbara and I were classmates. I am so sorry to hear about this.
Ray was my son father Michael Gardner he was a good dad rip ray