Gulie R. (Gus) Gardner

Gulie R. (Gus) Gardner 82, of Duncan, Oklahoma, passed away Monday, May 10, 2021 at his home.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 13, 2021 at the New Beginnings Family Worship with Toffer Schornick and Earl Gardner officiating, interment will follow at the Duncan Cemetery, and arrangements have been entrusted to the family care of Carter-Smart Funeral Directors.

Family visitation will be Wednesday evening May 12, 2021 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Carter-Smart Funeral Home.

Gulie R. (Gus) Gardner was born August 16, 1938 to Florence Grisham Gardner and William O. (Oscar) Gardner in Duncan, Oklahoma. Gus went to be with his Heavenly Father on May 10, 2021. He was the baby of eight children. He was raised in the Empire area and attended school at Empire. He played basketball and baseball while in high school. As part of the Armed Forces Enforcement Act of 1955, Gus enlisted in the Army. He spent 2 months at Ft. Chaffe, Arkansas in boot camp. He then went on to advanced basic training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina for 6 months. Then the war effort let up so he was in Duncan and would attend training refresher classes every Monday night, but was never called to active duty. On April 15, 1957, he married Margie Wilson. The family was made complete with the birth of their son, Earl and later a daughter, Ralena. Margie went to be with the Lord on September 26, 2005. Gus was a member of Gospel Beams Church, now New Beginnings Family Worship. Gus spent most of his career in the finance business working for finance companies in his early years and finishing his career with 33 years as the credit manager at Duncan Builder's supply. The Duncan Builder's Supply personnel were a second family to Gus. After retiring, Gus spent his time with family, going to church and playing golf with his golf crew. In the early years, Gus would work in his professional career by day and by night he farmed for many local farmers to support his family and to help his friends. Prior to his career at Duncan Builder's Supply, one of his jobs was with Pace Company. There he met Jay Blodgett. Jay had a real estate business and auction service in the Pace Building. With Jay's encouragement, Gus got his real estate license and went to auctioneer school. He worked many years with Jay's auction service, GH&J Auction and finally with Gary Criswell Auction Service. Through the years, Gus would do many auctions for fund raisers in the community. While working with Jay Blodgett, around 1973, Jay enlisted him to help him announce the Velma Picnic. Gus announced the Velma Picnic for 30+ years and would be given the Velma Picnic Living Legend Award in 2020. From his experience announcing the Velma Picnic and Earl's involvement riding bareback horses and bulls a new career of announcing rodeos was born. He would go on to announce Oklahoma Youth Rodeos and Open Rodeos all over the state of Oklahoma. Once while driving by the old Claude Gill Arena he said, "There's my old crow's nest. Verbalized many a butchered sentence up there." Gus's quick wit and charismatic personality enhanced his auctioneering and his rodeo announcing - he was never at a loss for words. He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them and being involved in their lives. He was able to enjoy seeing his 5 grandchildren grown and married and enjoyed 9 great-grandchildren. He loved transitioning from Papa to Papa Great and all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren knew they were dearly loved.

Gus was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Margie Gardner, his brothers; Orland Gardner and wife Sue, Bill Gardner and wife Pauline and James Gardner, his sisters; Emma Gardner who died at birth, Dean Magness, Ruby Anderson and husband J.B. and Vivian Halleen Newman & husband Roy, a brother-in-law; Bill Franklin and 3 nephews.

Gus is survived by a son; Earl Gardner & his wife Penny, daughter; Ralena Fewell & her husband Mike, his grandchildren; Joshua & Lacey Gardner, Daniel & Dani Gardner, Justin & Hannah Hatter, Tiffany & Ryan Warren and Greg and Briana Fewell, his 9 great-grandchildren, a sister-in-law; Peggy Franklin and many beloved nieces and nephews.   

Pallbearers will be Joshua Gardner, Daniel Gardner, Greg Fewell, Ryan Warren, Mike Fewell and Earl Gardner. Honorary pallbearers will be Boyd Montgomery, Paul Walker, Sam Darst, Devon Douglas, Gary Criswell, Don Hall, Pat Anderson and Lynn Knutson.

Special thanks and blessings to hospice nurse Vickie Case and care givers Andie Arrington and Kara Turner. They were all truly an answer to prayer. They made Gus's last days easier for him and his family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to any Veteran's organization, New Beginnings Family Worship, Cal Farley's Boys Home,of Amarillo, Texas or St. Jude's Children Hospital.  

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