Lee "Leroy" "Bubba" Edward Garner

Lee Edward Garner, aka Leroy or Bubba, 79, a longtime resident of Keene, NH, died peacefully on March 13, 2024, at his home in Brattleboro, VT, surrounded by his loving family, after a period of declining health.

Lee was born in Keene, NH on November 8, 1944, the son of Marian Emma (Leh) and Claude Hand Garner, Jr. He was a 1962 graduate of Keene High School.

Following graduation from high school, he joined the Army, stationed overseas working as a tank mechanic from 1962 to 1965. After serving his country, Lee worked for over fifty years with Markem Corporation in Keene.

Lee enjoyed meeting people and was known for striking up a conversation with anyone he met. He was also known for his huge heart and selfless personality.

An avid outdoorsman in his younger years, he would spend his time in the woods hunting with his son or his best friend, Royal. Lee also loved to be out in his garage where he would tinker with little projects or work on his lawn equipment. Additionally, some of his other favorite pastimes were woodworking, computer games, building model cars/ tanks, watching softball, taking photos, going to the races and going out to eat. Sunday drives were also a favorite outing, typically ones with no destination. He and his wife would take off for the day and go where the road took them.

Lee is survived by his wife of 57 years, Catherine Valerie (Furlone) Garner of Brattleboro; his brother Joseph Garner and his wife, Linda, of Keene; and his sister, Claudia Boggio of Exeter, NH; his Children, Jon Andrew Garner or Marlow NH, Jennifer Leh Garner and her life partner, Greg Willette, of Brattleboro, Leigh Anne Maguire and her husband, Craig Maguire of Portsmouth NH. Lee also has four grandchildren who were the light of his life, Morgan Willard and her husband, Thomas Willard Jr. of Keene, Mykayla Garner of Vernon VT, Matthew Garner of Swanzey, NH, and Mary Garner of Brattleboro. Lee was the proud great-grandfather of Charlotte Rose Willard of Keene. They were the best of buds, and he was very fond of the time they spent together. His parents and his sister Kathleen Patrice Garner predeceased him.

Lee requested that there be no funeral services, but instead a Celebration of Life where his friends and family he loved so much, can gather to reminisce while doing one of his most favorite things, eat and talk! The Celebration of Life will be held at the American Legion, 797 Court Street in Keene, NH, on Saturday, March 30, 2024, from 12:30-3:30pm.

For those who wish, donations may be made in Mr. Garner’s memory to the Sportsmen’s Alliance (sportsmensalliance.org), 801 Kingsmill Parkway, Columbus, OH 43229; or to the Monadnock Humane Society, 101 West Swanzey Road, Swanzey, NH 03446.