MSG Loyd V. Garner, son of the late Robert A Garner and Cora Lee DeArman Garner was born on December 7, 1935 at the family farm between Pyletown and Dexter, Missouri. He was a victim of the Covid 19 pandemic, and lost his fight with this terrible disease at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, MO on September 29, 2020. He was surrounded by medical professionals, other veterans, the wonderful home staff, and his loving wife, Linda Wright Garner, was holding his hand. He made the comment, he had a good woman. Their patients are not alone. Let your heart be comforted, because those risking their lives love them, too. His daughter, Janet Garner Guethle, and son-in-law, Francis Guethle live in the middle of his hay field. They will miss him greatly.
Mr. Garner was a Veteran of the Missouri National Guard. He started his career in 1954, at the age of 18, as a weekend warrior with a unit that would one day become his beloved 1221st Transportation company. He was a member of the Dexter Church of Christ. He worked for C R Trotter, as a senior in high school. He graduated in 1954 from Dexter Senior High. He became a registered land surveyor, and co-owner of Trotter Associates. He served as state President of Missouri Association of Registered Land Surveyors. He enlisted full time in the MO National Guard in 1985. He went to Jefferson City for a year, and was promoted to E8. A new unit was formed, HQ 4th Combat Support Battalion Main, in Poplar Bluff. He served as operations sergeant until his retirement at age 60 in 1995. No doubt he would have stayed in if there hadn’t been an age requirement.
Mr. Garner was from a family of 13 children. He is survived by Robert D Garner, Marvin A Garner, and Maxine Gillis. He was preceded in death by brothers Lester, Ivan, Hubert, Chester, Larry, and Lewis Garner. He was preceded in death by sisters, Myrl Cook, Emma Stallion, and Norma Grubbs.
Uncle Loyd was grandfather in spirit to many many children. Just ask his fishing buddies at his pond. They were all his family. This was not just Garners, there are Wrights, Kelleys, Grubbs, Menleys, Gillis, Davis, Stallion, Cook, Williams, and many other branches of his family tree. You didn’t have to grow on his tree from the roots, he just grafted you on.
Loyd was the person who didn’t tell you he was there if you needed something. That’s right. He was the guy who got his tools, tractor, truck, food, or money and showed up at your door to fix it. You took it to Loyd, and he fixed it for you. Even with Parkinson’s he had a need to do something for someone. Whether it was getting a plate for you at the reunion, or pushing your child on a ride on his walker.
Bob Garner would ask Loyd to come help “the children”. Loyd never talked about it much. They were doing volunteer work and donating things to the Children’s Home, Inc. which is home based in Paragould, AR. They have a farm program that provides healing therapy to families. This includes fishing, gardening, cattle, horse therapy, and other farm related activities. The family asks that donations be made specifically to the Farm Fund account at Children’s Home, Inc. www.childrenshomes.org 870-239-4031.
He was also a big supporter of the Garner Family annual reunion at the Bootheel Youth Camp. For over 30 years he was one of the first ones at camp to get it ready. His greatest hope was that this tradition continued. The July Reunion was cancelled because of the Pandemic. I’m not sure he knew this. It would break his heart. Please continue to carry on his traditions at the family reunion. Grafted tree branches are welcome, also.
Covid-19 is airborne, and transferred person to person. In his honor, please protect yourself and others from giving it a host. If you had been on a Covid medical ward, you would know to take this very seriously.
Funeral services will be conducted at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Saturday, October 10, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. with Jeremy Tucker officiating.
Interment will follow in the Dexter Cemetery with full military honors.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is in charge of arrangements.
