Dale Gardner

Dale Gardner passed away while in the arms of his loving son Cliff, on Oct. 31, 2024.

Graveside memorial services will be 2 p.m. Nov. 9, in Oakwood Cemetery in Hamilton, followed by a reception and light refreshments in the Park Heights Church of Christ annex.

Dale was born Sept. 15, 1948, in Hamilton County, the youngest of five children born to Price Luther Gardner and Rowena Rucker Gardner.

He graduated from Hamilton High School and went on to attend Tarleton State University where he graduated with a master’s degree in agriculture. He taught high school ag and FFA for 30 years in the DFW and Central Texas areas.

Dale absolutely loved animals. If it was up to him, he would spend all his time in the pasture amongst the cattle, goats, dogs, cats and any other animal possible.

After teaching for many years, he decided it was time to retire from teaching and move his family back to his hometown and community that he adored so much, Hamilton. He bought a little house outside of town and started a local family-owned construction business called A Plus Home Improvement. At different times, all his sons came to work with him in that business.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents and his broth-ers, Jerald Dean Gardner, Paul Eugene “Skeet” Gardner and Ronald Dee Gardner.

He is survived by four sons. Two of them sons, Ryan Lynn of Arlington and Sean Lynn of Midlothian, are technically “step,” but he raised them from the time they were three and one year old, and he loved them deeply. He spoke of them constantly, even on his final days. He is also survived by son Keith Gardner of Ovilla and Cliff Gardner of Tyler; beloved daughterin- law Amanda Gardner; his three grandsons, Pistol Lynn, Jackson Gardner and Tucker Gardner; sister Shirley Massingill and husband Gene of Durant, Oklahoma; his precious and most loved sisterin- law Lloyda Gardner; niece Paula Christian and husband Barry; and many other cousins, nieces, nephews, close relatives, friends and Hamilton community members.