Leotis (Lee) Gardner

Leotis (Lee) Franklin Gardner of Demopolis, Alabama died peacefully at his home on August 16, 2014. Services will be held on Monday, August 18 at 11:00 am at the First Baptist Church in Demopolis with the Reverend Carl Williams officiating and Kirk Funeral Homes Demopolis Chapel directing. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Demopolis. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services. Leotis was preceded in death by his parents, James Frank And Lillie Mae Gardner; brother, R.T. Gardner; sisters, Etta Lee Walker, Margie Lorea Brown, Beulah Mable Drake and Willie Ernestine McLendon. He is survived by his beloved and devoted wife of 74 years, Hazel Mae McLendon Gardner; sons, Danny Franklin Gardner (Suzanne) of High Ridge, Mo., William Earl Gardner of Jacksonville, Fla., Ronald Lee Gardner (Mickey) of Pelham, Ala. and Charles Edwin Gardner of Demopolis, Ala.; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Cecil Drake, Jerry McLendon, Greg Gardner, Tim Gardner, Davy Sanders and Ryan Sanders. Honorary Pallbearers are Ben Drake, Jim Brown, Ronnie Crockett, and Ulmer Tucker Sunday School Class. Leotis was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Demopolis for over 50 years and served as a deacon for many of them. He loved his church, family and friends and went out of his way to help anyone in need. He was involved with the brotherhood at the church and looked forward to helping in the kitchen at the brotherhood breakfasts. He had a contagious smile and laugh and he enjoyed meeting and talking with people. His hobbies after retirement involved taking care of his long haired dachshunds and gardening. Leotis had a talent for repairing almost anything and was admired for his patience and persistence in finishing a task. Even though Leotis had Alzheimer’s for the past 10 years, he always maintained a great disposition and never lost that contagious smile that will always be remembered. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Demopolis, Alzheimer’s Association or the giver’s favorite charity.

All obituaries taken from the website of the corresponding funeral home unless otherwise noted.