The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

George F. (Boatman) Gardner, Jr., 72, of Orange, passed away April 6. Funeral service will be at 10:00 AM, Saturday, April 9, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be the Rev. Daniel Rose of Community Church in Orange. Burial with full military honors will follow at Wilkinson Cemetery in Orange. Visitation will be from 5:00-9:00 p.m., Friday, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

George was born Dec. 27, 1943 in Orange, to Gladys (Permenter) and Max Boatman. A Vietnam Veteran who proudly served his country and retired from the Army after 20 years of service. After retirement he ventured into everything from building homes to over the road transportation with his wife. He loved camping and having fish fries with family and friends, carpentry, watching the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday and Monday Night Football and he was an avid NASCAR fan. Bass fishing on Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn was by far his favorite passion.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 41 years, Cheryl Ann Gardner; brothers and sisters-in-law, Roy and Tobi Boatman, Darrell and Cindy Boatman and Carl and Charlene Boatman; sons and daughters-in-law, Gary and Joy Gardner and Darren and Misty Gardner, all of Orange and Alvin and Thuy Gardner, of Bridge City; 10 grandchildren and multiple nieces and nephews and best friends, Tracy and Sandy Pogue of Leesville, La, Brock and Mariam Wells of Foley, Al and Mark and Gracie Mott, who made George his favorite chocolate pies, of Orange.

Serving as pallbearers will be Mark Mott, Eddie Welch, Mike Fry, Roy Boatman, Faron Goodmon and Gary House. Alternate pallbearer will be Micah Gardner. Honorary pallbearers are Tracy Pogue and Brock Wells.