Oliver M. Gardner

Oliver Max Gardner passed away peacefully Thursday morning, December 20, 2007 at Pitt County Memorial Hospital with his children and grandchildren at his bedside, after an extended illness.
Graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday in Edgecombe Memorial Park.
Max was born April 8, 1925 and raised near Saratoga in Wilson County where he was educated and graduated from Saratoga High School. He was raised in the Saratoga First Christian Church, and later became a member of Edgewood Free Will Baptist Church for many years. The past 23 years he spent as a member of Macclesfield First Christian Church. In 1945 he married Ethel Taylor who remained his loving and faithful wife until her death in 2004. He was a proud veteran of WWII, having served in the US Army and fought in the Battle of the Bulge in Germany. He later remained an active participant of many WWII reunions. Max farmed for many years after coming home from the war. He also worked for Clark Industries and WS Clark in Tarboro and Williamston for many years until his retirement about 10 years ago. His hobbies included gardening and yard work with hundreds of azaleas and fruit trees keeping him busy outside as much as possible. He also enjoyed traveling, having ventured to New York City, the North Carolina Mountains, as well as Tennessee, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas and Indiana.
In addition to his beloved wife, Max was preceded in death by his parents, Tommie and Hazel Nichols Gardner. He
is survived by a loving family that includes his son, Oliver Max Gardner, Jr. and wife, Gwen of Tarboro; daughter, Judy G. Morgan of Macclesfield; grandchildren, Byron Gardner and wife, Suzanne of Tarboro and Casey Gardner Christian and husband, Joe of Belville; great- granddaughters, Reagan and Parker Christian; sisters-in-law, Martha Etheridge and L.G. Etheridge of Wilson, Hazel Taylor of Macclesfield and Elaine Taylor of Pinetops; brother-in-law, Tom Taylor and wife, Judy of Savannah, GA.; extended family, Paul and Melissa Drake and family, Pam Parrisher and family and Susan Morgan and family, along with many wonderful nieces and nephews.
Friends are invited to visit the family 7:00-9:00 p.m. Friday at Carlisle Funeral Home and other times at the home, 2448 Carr Farm Road, Macclesfield.
While floral tributes are welcomed, those wishing to make memorials are asked to consider the American Heart Association or First Christian Church of Macclesfield, P.O. Box 159, Macclesfield, NC 27852 or First Free Will Baptist Church, 3150 Western Blvd., Tarboro, NC 27886.
Online condolences may be directed to the family by visiting www.carlislefuneralhome.com