Mr. Floyd Gardner

*****PLEASE SEE SERVICE INFORMATION BELOW***** Mr. Floyd Gardner also lovingly known as “Mookie” made his transition on January 3, 2017 in Kalamazoo, MI. He was born January 6, 1934 in Okolona, MS the son of Daniel and Edna Gardner. He accepted Christ as his personal Savior at an early age. He was a member of Galilee Baptist Church. He went to Roosevelt School in his grade school years. Later, he joined the United States Army and was Honorably Discharged. He was employed also as a Journey’s Man. He helped to construct many buildings in Kalamazoo, which included several buildings owned by Upjohn. After retiring from construction he became a maintenance technician at the Post 134. He received his GED at 50 years old. His favorite course in school was math and he was very good at numbers often referring to himself as “The Mathematician”. Floyd was known for his sense of humor. He was kind and a “gentle giant”. He had calm demeanor about him and wasn’t someone who would raise his voice. Some friends and family said he favored Ray Charles! Others would say he looked like Fred Sanford or Morgan Freeman. He enjoyed jazz music and would listen to jazz greats like John Coltrane. He also enjoyed listening to gospel music greats like Aretha Franklin. He was a family man who would go on vacations his wife and children. One of the many trips to California would take him and his family 2 weeks in travel time to get there because he enjoyed stopping along the way, for the family to experience seeing the sights. He would take the family also to the zoo, beach or the park spending a lot of quality time with them as well. Floyd was a great listener and he had a lot of wisdom. You could trust him with your secrets, because he wasn’t a gossiper. He loved his wife and they were known as “everyone’s couple”, and if you were a friend of one, you were a friend of both of them. Everyday he wanted his scrambled eggs, toast and coffee and he could start his day off right! He was also known for the “California Lean”. When he was driving you would see only his head and sunglasses peeking up from the front seat. Floyd is loved immensely by all of his friends and family and he will be greatly missed by all. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Clark Gardner; his son, Anthony Gardner; daughter Shondiea Gardner; his parents, Daniel and Edna Gardner; sister, Alma Lee Ligons; uncles, Evish Gardner, Rev. Mabry Gardner and Hesidi Gardner; sister-in-laws, Esther Ross and Barbara Clark; nephew, Todd Gardner; brother-in-laws, Joseph Armstrong and Frank Haywood; father and mother-in-law, Amos and Viola Clark; nieces, Rena Regina Ledbetter and Barbara McClendon; nephew, Dewayne McClendon, cousin, Albert McClendon; and son-in-law, Willie Ray Gray. He leaves to cherish his memory: children, Terry Gardner Sr., Debra Gardner, Tyrone Gardner Bey and Tracy Ross; grandchildren, Amountrae’ Gardner, Anthony Ross Gardner, Terry Gardner, Jr.; Kierra Princess Gardner, and Jamar James; great grandchildren, Amountrae’ Ross Smith and Sani Blessings Gardner Kellumn; aunts, Juanita Ford-McClendon, Jerneice Ledbetter and Olivia Gardner Neeley; sister-in-laws, Carrie Baker, Laurie Valkema and Deneen James; god brothers, Montrell Brown, Joe Thomas and Ocie Mitchell; goddaughter, Mondrea Mitchell; and a host of other relatives and friends. Also special friends, Jerome S. and Nate B.

Mr. Floyd Gardner

January 6, 1934 - January 3, 2017