He was born in Brownfield, Texas on May 1, 1940 to father, James and mother, Melissa who passed away during childbirth. James Gardner was raised in Byars, Oklahoma on a farm where he tended to crops and raised cattle. He graduated from Wayne High School in Wayne Oklahoma and attended Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma Panhandle State University. He married the love of his life, Clara Kathleen Hudson of Sulphur, in 1963. He was a man of faith and considered his family the most important accomplishment of his life. His career in construction management took them across the country where he oversaw projects in many states. He even owned and operated Gator-Con Construction Company and Gator-Boy Manufacturing Company for 11 years in Dothan, Alabama. He enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren especially fishing, hunting and traveling. He has spent his later years enjoying other activities of birdwatching, singing and reading history books.
He is preceded in death by his parents, James S. Gardner and Melissa Richey Gardner, and a brother whom he lost during the Vietnam Conflict, Daniel Eli Gardner. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Clara Gardner; his children, Kathy Lynn Gardner Bourgeois and husband, Thomas Wayne Bourgeois, II, and James Pace Gardner and wife, Lawanna, all of Sulphur; five grandchildren, Ryan, Daniel, John Wayne, Alex, and Trey; and great-grandchildren, Kilyn, Braylon, Remi, Ryan, and Reese.
Visitation will be held from noon until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday in Hixson-Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home. Graveside Service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 20, 2021 in Magnolia Cemetery in Westlake. The Rev. Lonnie Gothrup will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in James' memory at www.stjude.org/donatenow. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hixsonsulphurmemorial.com for the Gardner family.
