Howard Talmadge Gardner

HOWARD TALMADGE GARDNER Funeral services for Howard Talmadge Gardner, age 91 of Cullman, will be Sunday, January 8, 2017 at 1 p.m. at Cullman Heritage Chapel with Bro. Paul Monk and Rev. Kenny Sudduth officiating; interment in Fairview Cemetery in Addison. Visitation will be Saturday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Gardner passed away Monday, January 2, 2016 at his home with his loving family members by his side. He was born March 6, 1925 to the late James Harvey Gardner and Lula Sudduth Gardner. He is preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Wilma Horick; a granddaughter, Lana Merritt; three sisters, Audrey Kyser, Dodie Hood and Dorothy Allred; and two brothers, Edward Gardner and Henry Gardner. Survivors include his wife, Maylon Gardner; son, Donald “Donnie” Gardner; step-sons, William Butler and Robert Butler; step-daughters, Joyce Sue Byrd and Terry Butler (David) Messer; son-in-law, Howard Horick; sister, Velma Everett; grandson, Eugene Guerra; and several other grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was born in Cullman County but grew up on a farm in Winston County near Addison, AL. When he and his brother were 10 and 12 years old, they were thrust into the position of providing for their mother and 5 other children. Howard often said when Velma (the youngest) was born, she belonged to all of them and she was the glue that held the family together. Howard stayed on the farm until young adulthood when he began to work at dairy farms in Florida. He moved back and forth between Florida and the farm in Addison a few times, but meantime had married and had three children. In the late 40’s and 50’s he quit fighting the boll weevil and moved his family to Michigan where he worked in the automobile industry. After a few years of this he moved to Marietta, Georgia where he worked for Lockheed Corporation assembling planes. He stayed there for a few years where he continued to study and learn. He then moved to Hollywood, Florida and was employed by Eastern Airlines at the Miami Airport as an aircraft mechanic. He was there about 24 years before retiring. He returned to Alabama in 1987. He met Maylon Stevens Butler in 1992 and they were married in 1993. They had many happy years together and traveled extensively throughout the lower 48 states. Howard’s health finally forced them to settle down and enjoy their memories. He was a member of the Masonic Order for 59 years, was a member of Cullman Masonic Lodge #421 where he served as chaplain for many years and also a member of the Royal Arch Masons of Marietta, Georgia for 58 years. He knew he was greatly loved and will truly be missed.

Howard Talmadge Gardner

March 6, 1925 - January 2, 2017