Hilliard Gardner

“Hoot” Hilliard Gardner, 88, of Benton Harbor, passed away on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI 49085 with Pastor Tony Fields officiating. Veteran's honors will be performed afterwards. Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the funeral home. A private graveside service will be held on Wednesday at North Shore Memory Gardens in Coloma. Memorial donations may be directed to Hospice at Home, St. Joseph. Those wishing to send a condolence or memory may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Hilliard “Hoot” Gardner was born on May 23, 1921 to Reps and Mattie (York) Gardner in Dyersburg, TN. Hoot was an Army veteran of World War II stationed in the Phillipines. Hoot was a farmer but also worked in molding at Superior Steel for 28 years as well as Bartz Pontiac, Don Lietow and Weller Chevy Buick dealerships. Hilliard married Betty on May 15, 1948 in Corinth, MS. Together, they raised two daughters, Carol and Kathy. He was a lifelong member of VFW Club Post 1137 and Disable American Veterans. Hoot loved to hunt, fish and snowmobile. Most of all he cherished spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Hilliard is survived by his wife, Betty; daughters, Carol (Michael) Weller and Kathy Gardner Burch both of St. Joseph; two sisters, Verna (Jack) Turner of Union City, TN and Oletha (Ray) Gilbert of Portage, IN; three grandchildren, Tyanna Weller, Lindsay Burch and Nicholas Burch; three great grandchildren, Skylar Nalepa, Cassandra Nalepa and Taylor Cheh; and his beloved pet, Taz. He is preceded in death by his brother, Leonard Gardner, sister, Juanita Hempill and his parents, Reps and Mattie Gardner.