Gerald "Jerry" Gardner

Gerald "Jerry" Gardner, 78, of Towanda, Pa., (Burlington Twp.) passed away peacefully on Friday evening, May 30, 2014 at the Troy Community Hospital.

Born on Aug. 31, 1935 in Pine Hill, Pa., (Tioga County, Union Twp.), Gerald Gardner, "Rookie" to family and friends, was a son of the late Wayne Gardner and Hazel (Krise) Gardner Morgan. He attended East Point and Liberty schools before graduating from Canton High School with the class of 1954.

In 1972, Jerry married the former Linda Crane in Towanda. He was employed by Remington Rand and General Electric both in Elmira, Towanda Wholesale Company and was a bartender at the Canton Grill. Jerry enjoyed doing many things in life, but favorite hobbies included fishing, hunting and playing golf. He was an accomplished bowler and an avid fan of the NY Yankees, NY Giants and Brooklyn Nets.

Surviving are his wife Linda; six children Susan (John) Heyler of Nauvoo, Judy Bergenstock of Lock Haven, Jane (John) Kratz of Hershey, Jerry Gardner Jr. of Florida, Lisa (Kevin) Linquist of Blossburg and Karen Crane (Richard Shoff) of Towanda; a son-in-law David Fleming of Granville Summit, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a brother Milton (Dorothy) Gardner of Florida; seven stepbrothers and stepsisters Joan Kehres and Joyce Blair both of East Point, Ronnie (Carol Ann) Carey, Alice May, Walt (Susie) Morgan, Herb (Sherry) Morgan and Doyle (Marilyn) Morgan all of Canton; four brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Mark (Delores) Crane of Towanda, Kathy (Robert) Rice of Homer, N.Y., Ellen Van Horn of Edison, N.J. and Nancy Crane of Towanda; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Also dear friends Wayne and Marilyn Scott and Ed Stone all of Canton, Jim and Joan Leonard of Erin, N.Y., Tim and Heidi Kump of Ulster and his special bowling buddies.

Jerry was predeceased by a daughter Shelby Fleming in 2003; maternal grandparents James and Eliza (Krise) Deitrick; a nephew Steve Gardner; three stepbrothers-in-law Joe Kehres, Joe Blair and Jerry May; also two brothers-in-law Larry Crane and Dennis Van Horn.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, at Pepper Funeral Home, 578 Springbrook Dr., Canton. Rev. Jasper Smith will officiate the funeral service at 1 p.m. Burial will follow in Bradford County Memorial Park in Luthers Mills. Those who wish may consider a memorial in Jerry's name to a charity of one's choice. Share condolences at www.pepperfuneralhomes.com.