Stephen Charles "Steve" Garner

Stephen "Steve" Charles Garner Jr, 54, of Hot Springs, Arkansas passed away September 20, 2025. He was born September 3, 1971, in Fort Smith, AR, to Stephen Garner Sr. and Linda Terrell Garner.

Steve loved motorcycles, hunting, the Razorback basketball team, and snow skiing, which he only knew 1 speed and that was tuck and go but could stop on a dime. Steve loved being out on the lake. His last boating adventure was a couple weeks before which he spent with cousin Lynde.

Steve was a proud 1988 graduate of Hot Springs High School. Over the years, he built a diverse and fulfilling career, beginning with Southwest Sign Company (1989-1993), followed by 15 years with SGI Builders, Inc. (1993-2008). He then found his calling in ministry, serving as Youth Director (2008-2010), Assistant Director of The Branch Ministries (2008-2014), and Associate Pastor of The Branch Church (2010-2014). He later returned to construction with SGI Builders in Florida (2014-2018) and Huff & Son Construction (2018-2024), before being forced to retire in 2024 due to a stroke.

Even though he was limited physically from the stroke, he never gave up. He worked hard learning to write & do things with his left hand. He would laugh and make jokes about his speech that was impaired, his saying when he got stumped trying to say something he would say "oh just forget it."

He loved going camping on Ouachita with his longtime friend Duck.

He loved his brother & sister. They always were laughing and cutting up when they got together.

Survivors include his children, Blake Matthew (Laura) Garner, Brock Garner, Barret "Tuff" Garner; siblings, Shawna Thrasher, Shane (Heather) Garner, Parents Steve and Linda Garner, Grandmother Pauline Kirksey, all of Hot Springs. Bonus Children Gaige Burgett, Tiana Radford, Madison Radford. Aunts Marva Huff (James), Tina Burkhalter (Hersheyl) Jan Saunders (Jeff) & Cousin/Sister Lynde Garner Parks & Cousin/brother Matt Huff and his 8mo old Great Nephew Cannan whom he was crazy about.

Visitation will be 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Thursday at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home.

A celebration of Stephen's life will be 2:00 pm Friday at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home.

Honorary Pallbearers include....Assistant Chief Jon Munz, Rick Davis, Matt Huff, Duck Henry, Scott Taylor, Shannon Sheets, Robbie Musil, Jason Allsup, Robert Jankowski, Adam George.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to...The Nurses in the CCU at CHI, The Drs that so tirelessly worked to help Steve.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Branch at Snowsprings.