O. Max Gardner IV

O. Max Gardner, IV, 37, of 1780 New House Road, Shelby, NC, died April 24, 2005 at Kings Mountain Hospital.
Max was born in Cleveland County and was a 1986 graduate of Shelby High School. He attended Appalachian State University and UNC Chapel Hill. Max was the Chief Legal Assistant in the Law Offices of O. Max Gardner, III and was director of the O. Max Gardner Foundation, Inc. Max was a devoted son, loving husband and caring friend. His passion in life centered on his law work and family, especially playing with his son, Ollie. His interest in researching his family history expressed his deep devotion and loyalty to his family roots. Max was a strong advocate of consumer and minority rights and was an integral part of his father's success.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, O. Max Gardner, Jr. and Sara Mull Gardner; great-grandparents, Governor O. Max Gardner and Fay Webb Gardner; and maternal grandparents, Zane and HazelHuffstetler.
Surviving: wife of nine years, Allyson Petty Gardner of the home; son, Oliver "Ollie" Perry Gardner, II,age 5, of the home; daughters, Emily and Caralei; parents: O. Max Gardner, III and stepmother, Victoria Harwell Gardner of Shelby and Janet Huffstetler of Chapel Hill; father and mother-in-law, Don and Cora Petty of Shelby; brothers, Ralph Webb Gardner II of Chapel Hill; sisters, Sarah Gardner Naftolin and husband, Josh of Raleigh; nephew, Zane Naftolin of Raleigh.
Graveside service 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 26, 2005 at Sunset Cemetery, the Gardner Family Gravesite, with Rev. Joel Dale and Dr. Nancy Petty officiating.
Visitation was held 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, April 25, 2005 at Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the O. Max Gardner Award Trust, c/o Mr. Bart Corgnati, Secretary of the University of North Carolina, P.O. Box 2688, Chapel Hill, NC 27515.
Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home is serving the Gardner family.