George was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1930, son of James Howell and Josephine Garner. He attended Sacred Heart and then Christian Brothers High School, where he graduated in 1948. He attended William R. Moore School of Technology until he enlisted and served in the United States Navy. During the Korean War, he served aboard the USS Boxer where he prepared and loaded bomber planes.
While on leave during the winter of 1951, he road a bus (much of time standing up) from San Diego to Memphis to marry his high school sweetheart, Joyce Lee Eilert, at Sacred Heart Church. When his military service ended, George and Joyce began their life in Memphis, where they had four children, seven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. For more than six decades, the two of them shared an unwavering romance and devotion to each other, even after they were separated by Joyce’s passing in 2014.
A man who always lived to work, not worked to live, George worked in the family business, Garner Picture Framing, for the majority of his life. George helped his father establish the frame shop in the early 1950s in the family garage. He stepped down in the 1990s and handed off the business to his sons Matt and Chris. After Chris took over the business in 2008, George continued to work full time at the frame shop with Chris and his grandson Maddie until 2022, when he was forced to retire at age 91 after complications from an accident at home.
George was an extraordinary man, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, boss, and friend. He greeted everyone he met with an infectious smile, loved to make people happy and laugh, and was genuine in his care and concern for others.
George is preceded in death by his parents James and Josephine, wife Joyce Lee Eilert Garner, sister Marie Denman, and daughter-in-law Johanna Broeker Garner. He is survived by his four children and their spouses: Madison Garner of Memphis, Tennessee; Gaye (John) Keller of Piperton, Tennessee; Jan (Paul) Tisdal of Weatherford, Oklahoma; Christopher (Glenda) Garner of Memphis, Tennessee.
He is further survived by his grandchildren and “bonus” grandchildren who are all grown and thriving: Andrew (Tracey) Staples of Collierville, Tennessee; Beau (Courtney) Staples of Collierville, Tennessee; Melissa Davis of Arkansas; Seth (Jodi) Keller of Memphis, Tennessee; Chad Keller of Memphis, Tennessee; Bo (Laura) Tisdal of Weatherford, Oklahoma; Taylor (TJ) Moen of Ft. Worth, Texas; Louisa (Zachary) Simmons of Camden, Mississippi; Coleman Garner of Washington, District of Columbia; and Maddie (Courtney) Garner of Memphis, Tennessee. Lastly, George’s legacy endures with his nine great-grandchildren: Landon Tisdal, Garner Tisdal, Bella Salinas, Dominic Staples, Lucas Staples, Cora Staples, Alex Davis, Merrick Moen, and Russell Moen.
The Garner family would like to thank Misrak Haile of Comfort Keepers, the very special nurses at Crossroads Hospice, and Minnie Guilford for the consistent care and comfort they gave George during his final months. We are forever grateful.
The family will hold a graveside service at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee, on Tuesday, August 13, at 2:00 PM followed by a celebration of life at 5379 McKyle Cove, Memphis, TN 38120, at 4:30 PM.
