Johnny Garner

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Eagles Lodge. Military honors will follow at 3 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado.

He is survived by a son, Ryan of Grand Junction; a daughter, Heather Frey of Brighton; a brother, Lenny of Erie; a sister, Carla Chamblee of Brighton; and five grandchildren.

Memorial contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka KS 66675; or to St. Jude’s Children’s Hopsital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105.

Johnny Garner

March 22, 1945 - September 12, 2015

Johnny Garner, 70, of Grand Junction passed away September 12, 2015.

Johnny was born March 22, 1945, in Hayden, CO to Richard and Aurora Garner. He was a big brother to Ricky, Lenny and Carla. He grew up in Palisade and attended Palisade High School. He then joined the Marines and fought in Vietnam. He returned as a decorated veteran.

In 1969, he married Connie Walcher and they had two children, Heather and Ryan. They settled in Grand Junction where he enjoyed his first passion of entertaining people with his singing and songwriting.

Johnny began his 20 year award winning career as a job developer for Mesa Developmental Services in 1986. In retirement he loved to volunteer at the Veteran's Hospital, and the Eagles and the Elks Lodges. He had a lifetime love of fishing with brother, Ricky, gardening, singing, being with his family, and finding a good bargain.

Johnny's family of Connie, Heather and John Frey, Ryan and Teresa; his grandchildren, Trevor, Parker, Megan, Kaelan and Korinne; siblings, Carla, Lenny and numerous nieces and nephews will miss him.

A memorial reception will be held on Monday, September 21st at Eagles Lodge at 11:00 a.m. The military service will be held at Veterans Memorial Cemetery at 3:00 p.m.

Contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children or the Wounded Warrior Project.

Published in The Daily Sentinel on Sept. 16, 2015