Thomas Lloyd Gardner Jr.

Thomas Lloyd Gardner Jr. was born on April 5th, 1937. Tom passed away February 13 at 3:41pm in his home in Huntsville Texas, surrounded by his loving wife of 41 years, his children and grandchildren. He was 88 years old.
He was predeceased in death by his parents Dr. Thomas Lloyd Gardner Senior, Rosie Lee Gardner and his brother John Gardner.
He is survived by his wife Deloris Gardner, his children Thomas Lloyd Gardner III and Laura Elizebeth Perkinson, Kaye Hendrix, and JoCarol and Randy Bright. His grandchildren Josie Perkinson, Kaycee Hendrix, Kaylee Jackopin and Husband AJ, Ashley Cassity and Husband Crockett and Alisha Walton. Great great-grandchildren J.J., Payton, and Brady Jackopin. Also, his nephews Todd Gardner and wife BJ and Jeff Gardner and wife Lecie and Ann Gardner, his brother John's wife. His friend John Spinks, as well.
Tom grew up in Livingston Texas and graduated Livingston High School in 1955. He attended Tulane University and obtained his pharmacy degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
Tom had many passions, including outdoor sports as a young man, woodworking by which he made many beautiful pieces and he loved all things nautical. He and Deloris had several sailboats that they kept at Kema in a marina on Galveston Bay. Tom, Deloris and their children enjoyed many sails and fun weekends there and were blessed to have had that those experiences. He and Deloris also enjoyed several trips to Europe and Alaska and were enriched by those travels as well.
Tom loved all of his children and grandchildren and made it a point to be sure everyone was well cared for, no matter the situation. Everyone in his life was truly better off for having the privilege of him in their lives.

Of notable mention was Tom's passion for literature. He and Thomas shared many novels and a passion for science. No son was ever more blessed to share so much in common with such a loving father. He and his daughter Laura shared a unique sense of humor and had the ability to make each other laugh and smile. Their relationship was also special. When he married Deloris, he gained two new daughters, Kaye and JoCarol. He valued the meaningful relationship they shared and was thankful for their love and support throughout the 41 years they spent together.
He was blessed with five granddaughters who enriched his life in countless ways. He considered his grandchildren one of God's greatest blessings in his life. Tom's heart was full of love, and he found purpose in sharing that love with ever person who held a special place in his life.
Above all, Tom had an unshakeable faith in God and made it a point from the time he married Deloris to take his children to church at Wesley United Methodist Church in Huntsville, specifically and to keep the word of the Lord central in all his thoughts and actions. He tried to set an example by the way he lived and treated others. He truly had empathy and compassion for others, despite their personal creed or belief system. He lived by the word as best he could and was a blessing to all those around him because of it.