Stanley Gardner

Earl Stanley Gardner, 81, went home to Jesus on March 12, 2021, in Frisco, Texas. Stanley was born on November 28, 1939, in Ropesville, TX to James and Alta Gardner. However perhaps, the most important date of his life was when he was born again through Jesus Christ at the age of eight.

Stanley grew up in Edmondson and Plainview, TX. He graduated from Plainview High in 1958. After high school, he attended business school, and later started his own business in Plainview.

Later, Stanley and his family moved to Dumas, TX where he started Stanley’s Tire Company. There, he served as President of the Lion’s Club and was an active member of First Baptist Church Dumas. He completed his working years as a Realtor® in San Angelo and Granbury, TX.

Stanley was a sub-scratch golfer who played in the qualifying round of the US Open. He also served as a golf club pro in Waco, TX. He was even featured in Golf Magazine as a personal witness to one of his team members making two hole-in-ones in a five-hole stretch on the same eighteen-hole round. The odds of that occurring are 1 in 67 million.

Stanley was also an avid fisherman. His greatest catch was a yellow fin tuna he caught in Hawaii that was just nine pounds short of the world record. He also loved crappie and bass fishing.

He taught his kids how to golf, fish, and hunt. He also taught them perseverance, often stating “the problems of life will never overtake me, as long as my determination to succeed is strong enough”.

Stanley is survived by his four children: Steve Gardner and his wife Elaine of Frisco, Sammy Gardner and his wife Debbie of Frisco, Miles Gardner and his wife Darla of Marietta, OK (formerly of Murphy, TX), and Robyn McLucas and her husband Clay of Murphy, TX (formerly of Lubbock). Stanley’s legacy will be carried on by his six grandchildren: Kali, Britley, Grayson, Branson, Chase and Kenzi; and his three great-grandchildren: Oakley, Audrey and Madalynn.

Stanley is also survived by his sister, Ann Holland (and her husband, Wayne) of Lubbock, and Randy Gardner (and his wife, Patty) of San Angelo. Stanley was preceded in death by his parents, James E. Gardner in 2010, and Alta Baucum Gardner in 2013.

A celebration of Stanley’s life will be held at Stonebriar Funeral Home, 10375 Preston Road, Frisco, TX, at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, with Steve and Sammy Gardner officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service at 10:00 AM on Wednesday. Stanley will be laid to rest at a private ceremony at Miles and Darla Gardner’s Whitetail Ranch in Marietta, OK. (A link to a live stream of the celebration of life service will be provided.)

If you wish to honor Stanley, memorial donations can be directed to the Stonebriar Community Church Benevolence Fund (not affiliated with Stonebriar Funeral Home), 4801 Legendary Drive, Frisco, TX 75034. Condolences may be left on Earl Stanley Gardner’s online guest book at Stonebriar Funeral Home.