Claude William “CW” Gardner

CW Gardner, age 78, a resident of Breckenridge, MO, passed away on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.

CW was born the son of William Henry Gardner and Beulah Mae Pruett on July 1, 1938, in Clifton City. He was united in marriage to Venita E. Carter on May 8, 1960, in Elmer. She survives of the home.

CW was from a large family of loggers and operated Gardner Lumber Company for more than fifty years. He harvested timber from south of the Missouri River to the Iowa line and worked in the woods until the day of his death. He was a member of the Breckenridge Baptist Church and Masonic Lodge in Breckenridge.

Survivors include his wife, Venita; one son, Mark Lee Gardner of Cascade, CO; two daughters, Robin Marie Decker (Drew) of Colorado Springs, CO, and Terri Lynn Gardner of Breckenridge; four brothers, Jack Gardner (Karen) of Albany, Guary Gardner (Jean) of Elmer, Joe Gardner of Breckenridge, and Albert “Curley” Gardner (Arlene) of Pattonsburg; three sisters, Thelma Dean Mallett (Gary) of New Cambria, Mary Allred of Breckenridge, and Carolyn Crooker (Jay) of Sedalia; and four grandchildren, Christiana Marie Gardner, Vance Lee Gardner, Zane Becker, and Tyler Decker.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Cliff Gardner, Calvin Gardner, and Terry Lee Gardner; and one sister, Betty Dela Cruz.

Funeral services will be held at the Breckenridge Baptist Church in Breckenridge on Saturday, April 15, at 3:00 p.m. A scheduled family visitation will be held at the Breckenridge Baptist Church at 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, one hour prior to the service. Friends may call at the Lindley Funeral Home in Chillicothe on Friday, April 14, from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Livingston County Public Library, and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home in Chillicothe.