Barry Lynn Gardner, of Kingston, Tenn., passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 23, 2013, in Lake Havasu, Ariz., with his wife, Debbie at his side. Barry was born on Aug. 31, 1953, in Russellville, Ky., to Ralph and Lillian Gardner.
He grew up in Beaver Dam, Ky., and was a member of Beaver Dam Baptist Church during those years. He graduated from Ohio County High School in 1971. He attended LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, where he was a member of the baseball team. He lived and worked in Kentucky, Colorado and Florida before settling in Tennessee 18 years ago. At the time of his death, he was on a 6-month assignment in Arizona for Stell Environmental Enterprises, Inc. where he was a UXO Tech.
Barry loved most everything about life including UK basketball, golf and Yankee baseball. He especially loved spoiling his granddaughter, Maddie Maye, and was known for holiday gatherings at his home on Watts Barr Lake in Kingston. With his wonderful singing voice, he enjoyed entertaining his guests with some of their favorite songs. Family and friends always took away with them smiles and wonderful memories of music, water sports and elaborate fireworks displays.
Barry was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Marti Smith Gardner, his step-son, Eric Estes and his mother-in-law Sarah Turbeville.
Barry will be greatly missed by his wife, Debra Turbeville Gardner; his daughters Tracey (Rodrigo) Fass of Christiansted, St. Croix, and Stephanie (Kent) Bailey; his grandchildren Maddie Maye Bailey and Miller Bailey, all of Kingston, Tenn.; his sister, Ann (Mike) Givens of Crossville, Tenn.; his brother, Kevin (Tonia) Gardner of Oldsmar, Fla., niece, Grace Gardner; nephews Zach, Jordan and Jacob Gardner, all of Florida, Scott and Eric Givens and great-nephew, Braden Givens, all of Texas; his aunts, Hattie Ruth Shelton and Maxine Gardner and great-uncle Howard Danks, all of Logan County, Ky.; his stepson Travis (Jennifer) Estes and grand-children Corey Estes, Emily Estes, and Caleb Estes of Lenoir City, Tenn.
A memorial service will be conducted at 1 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, March 2, at Central Baptist Church in Kingston, Tenn. Visitation with the family will be held from noon until the time of the memorial service on Saturday at Central Baptist Church, 245 Bailey Road, Kingston, Tenn.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Barry Gardner’s memory to Beaver Dam Baptist Church, 343 S. Main Street, Beaver Dam, Kentucky 42320 or Breast Cancer Research Fund, 60 East 56th Street, New York, NY 10022 or www.bcrfcure.org.