Lawrence Gardner

Lawrence Carroll Gardner July 7, 1918 - July 18, 2015 FOREST CITY - Lawrence Carroll Gardner, of Forest City, died Saturday morning, July 18, 2015, at Hospice of Rutherford County. A native of Lowell, Massachusetts, he moved his family to Rutherford County in 1963 to work at Spinners Processing Company in Spindale and later Reeves Brothers in Rutherfordton until his retirement in 1987. Mr. Gardner was involved with Rutherford County Republican Party for many years, was former Chair of the Yokefellow Service Center Board and served for 38 years as the Coordinator for Yokefellow Prison Ministry. He also served as an officer of the Rutherford Correctional Center Community Resource Council and as Coordinator for the Rutherford County Interdenominational Soup Kitchen at Immaculate Conception Church for over 10 years. Mr. Gardner was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Carolyn; son Bill Gardner; sisters Bette Sanford and Dot Matthews; and brothers Frank, Jim, Billy, and Paul Gardner. He is survived by sister, Anne Pike of Wilmington, Mass.; children Scott (Anne) of Durham, NC, Betty Gardner Underwood (Gerald) of Monroe, NC, Kathy Gardner Dickson (Herb) of Indian Trail, NC , and daughter-in-law Denise Gardner of Caroleen; four grandchildren Josh Gardner, Laura Gardner Neely (Eric), Eric Gardner (Cameron), and Drew Gardner; one great-grandchild, Dylan Gardner; and many nieces and nephews. The Rosary will be said at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 6pm on Tuesday, July 21, 2015, followed by visitation until 8pm. A Mass for Mr. Gardner will be held 11am on Wednesday, July 22, 2015, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Forest City with the Rev. Father Herbert Burke presiding. Burial will follow in Eternal Hills Memorial Park (formerly known Sunset Memorial Cemetery) in Forest City with a reception at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Building Fund, 1024 West Main Street, Forest City, NC 28043 or Hospice of Rutherford County, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043. An online guest register/tribute wall is available at www.mcmahansfuneralhome.com. McMahan's Funeral Home and Cremation Services is in charge of the arrangements.