Othor Garner

Othor Garner, age 88, of Daisy, passed away Wednesday, February 9, 2011. He was born December 30, 1922 in Amity, Arkansas, the son of Gracie Golden Garner and William David "Papa Dave" Garner. He was a member of Buffalo Gap Masonic Lodge #484 of Langley. He attended Amity and Daisy school and was married to the love of his life, Pauline Mack Garner, September 11, 1943 in Kirby. During the Great Depression, Othor worked out of state for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). He was a World War II Navy veteran, having fought aboard the USS South Dakota in the Pacific Theatre. After the war he was presented with the World War II Victory medal, American Campaign medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal, Navy Occupation Service medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. After returning from war, Othor and Pauline began their family, having four children; Jim Garner, Bob Garner, Larry Garner and Sharon Garner Dingler. During his lifetime, he and his family lived and worked in both southwest Arkansas and northern California, traveling back and forth many times. He contributed to the clearing and building of many roads into the Sierra Nevada Mountains throughout northern California as well as many years in the logging industry throughout the United States. Othor's passions were family, fishing, story-telling and gardening. He was featured on KTHV's "Everyone has a story," in 2003, recognizing his gardening work and love of family. He was known and will be remembered fondly for his love, wit, orneriness and fierce loyalty. Many yarns were spun through the years behind the efforts of his comic, story-telling ability; a gift that has reached through five generations living throughout the United States. He is survived by three children and their spouses; Jim and Janice Garner, Larry Garner and Sharon Garner Dingler and Ronnie; 12 grandchildren; Linda Garner Swope, Barbara Garner Baker, Tony Garner, Trevor Garner, Dwayne Garner, Michelle Garner, Bert Garner, Bobby Garner, Brad Garner, Kyle Garner, Tonya Dingler Vallee and Danielle Dingler Cummings; 23 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; and siblings; Travis Garner of Daisy and Dessie Tipton of Clarendon. He was predeceased by his wife, Pauline Mack Garner; one son, Bob Garner; six siblings, Odie Buck, Otis Garner, Ardell Garner, Adell York, Wennie Fant, Lennie Simmons and Almeta (Meter) O'Neal Moore. Services will be held at 2:00 PM, Sunday, February 13, 2011, at the Davis-Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Glenwood with cousins Dewight Mack and Dewayne Mack officiating. Visitation will be held Sunday, 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM, prior to the services. Interment and Masonic rites will be held in the Mount Joy Cemetery, following the service. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Dwayne Garner, Tony Garner, Trevor Garner, Bert Garner, Bobby Garner and Brad Garner. Honorary pallbearers will be Donald House, Tracy Gould, Jimmy D. Cates, Jimmy Neal, Charles Jones, Kenny Zellner, grandchildren and great grandchildren and Dr. Martin Koehn and staff of Arkansas Hospice. Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com.