Gary E. Gardner

Gary E. Gardner, 51, of Uhrichsville, died unexpectedly on Saturday, June 17, 2006 at his home.A son of Beverlee (Carlson) Gardner and the late Bill Gardner, Gary was born on April 2, 1955 in Tracy, California.He was a 1973 graduate of Dover High School and a 1977 graduate of Ohio University where he graduated with Summa Cum Laude honors. Gary was employed at Zifaro’s Pizza Shop in Uhrichsville where he worked with his family.Gary was a passionate person who celebrated life to the fullest. One of his greatest passions in life was baseball. He was a member of the Trails End Sports baseball team in the 50 and over league and before that, he played for the Tuscarawas County Indians. When he wasn’t playing baseball himself, he enjoyed watching his son, Tyson, play baseball and his daughter, Lindsay, play softball as well as watching other family members during their games.Gary will be remembered by his family as an outstanding cook. He was regarded as having been able to make the best pizza in the county and his barbecue chicken and teriyaki steak on a stick was a family favorite. He will also be remembered for his excitement of the annual Turkey Bowl football games which he took part in with his family on Thanksgiving Day. Gary was an avid fan of the Cleveland sports teams even during the down years. He enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles and playing Risk and also the annual Fourth of July celebrations with his family.But most of all, Gary loved his family dearly and he cherished every moment he spent with them.He is survived by his mother, Bev Gardner of Dover; his loving wife of 20 years, Kristine (Stewart) Gardner, whom he married on March 1, 1986; one daughter, Lindsay Gardner of the home; two sons, Tyson Gardner of the home and Billy Homman of New Philadelphia; two sisters, Gay (Rick) Stewart of Dover and Geri (Al) Abbas of Dover; one brother, Greg (Therese) Gardner of Dover; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert and Donna Stewart of Uhrichsville, six brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Kevin (Renee) Stewart of Winfield, West Virginia, Cindy (Mike) Merrick of Uhrichsville, Kurt (Jenny) Stewart of Dennison, Robert Stewart of Uhrichsville, Michael (Stacey) Stewart of Uhrichsville and Tiffany (Fiancé Aaron Haney) Stewart of Uhrichsville and nieces and nephews, Zach (Stacie), Zeb, Zeke and Zane Gardner, Ricky and Stacy Stewart, Lexi, Tasha, Daniel and Drew Abbas, Emily and Ryan Stewart, Nicholas Merrick, Noah Stewart, Brady and Ella and Kaiden Stewart and his beloved dog Tuffy.Family and friends may call in the Geib Funeral Center, 5600 North Wooster Avenue, Dover, on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 from 5 to 9 p.m. A funeral service celebrating Gary’s life will be held on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at 11 a.m. in the Geib Funeral Center with Rev. Hugh Berry officiating. In keeping with Gary’s wishes, cremation will take place following the services and inurnment will he held in Union Cemetery at Uhrichsville at a later date.Following the funeral service on Wednesday, a memorial luncheon will be held in the Hospitality Room of the Geib Funeral Center.Memorial contributions may be made in Gary’s memory to the Tyson and Lindsay Gardner Education Fund, c/o The First National Bank of Dennison, 105 Grant Street, Dennison, OH 44621