Ollie Gardner

Oliver (Ollie) Vernell Gardner of Fort Smith passed away Monday, August 26, 2013, in a Fort Smith hospital. He was born December 6, 1936, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to the late Chief Gardner and Tasceil Tunnecliff. He was a retired self-employed builder. He and his partner(s) remodeled, renovated, and constructed many buildings in the Fort Smith area. Ollie was very athletic. He participated and excelled in several sports. During his younger years he simultaneously played on both slow pitch and fast pitch softball teams and a baseball team. All of the teams had successful seasons. Later, he received numerous awards for his contribution to the sports he loved. He served as District Commissioner for ASA Softball from 1964-2001, and he was recognized numerous times as a staff member by the ASA National Championship Committee. Ollie was a member of the ASA National Council from 1984-2008. Also, he was inducted in the National ASA Umpires Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, OK, and in 2001, he was inducted in the Arkansas Softball Hall of Fame.

Funeral services will be Friday, August 30, 2013 at 10:00 at Edwards Funeral Home with burial in Roland City Cemetery. Ollie’s family will visit with friends at Edwards Funeral Home 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, August 29, 2013. He is survived by his wife, Sue; two sons, Danny and his wife, Karen, of Van Buren, and Scot and his partner, Martin, of Fayetteville; a granddaughter, Emily Gardner Parks and her husband, Devon, and a grandson, Connor Gardner; two sisters, Delia Rowe and husband, Richard, of Spring, Texas and Wilma Lou Cravens of Conroe, Texas. Pallbearers will be Gary Means, Donnie Matlock, Johnny Mason, Wes Means, Larry Calloway, and Charlie Mann. Honorary pallbearers will be T.L. Kelly, Billy Kimmons, Agnes Carson, Richard Means, George Carpenter, Steve Auprey and Jack Brown. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 2408 South 51st Court, Suite F, Ft. Smith, AR 72903 To place online tributes, please visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com