Richard Gardner, a 69 year old resident of Trenton, MO passed away at 11:45 a.m., Wednesday, October 09, 2013 at his residence while under hospice care.

Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Sunday, October 13, 2013 at Whitaker Eads Funeral Home in Trenton.  Cremation will follow the services.  A visitation will be held from 7 until 8 Saturday evening at the funeral home.  Memorial donations are suggested to the Scout Camp, Hospice Advantage, or the Liberty Tree House.

Richard Gardner was born December 14, 1943 in Trenton to Albert and Vida (Stephens) Gardner.   He graduated from Trenton High School the class of 1961and attended vocational college in Machine maintenance.  On November 24, 1962 he was united in marriage to Karen Ann Van Hoose in Marshalltown, Ia. They moved out of Trenton in 1963 living in Illinois, Trenton, and Marshalltown, IA before returning to Trenton to stay in 1972. For many years Richard was employed with Trenton Foods doing maintenance.  Richard enjoyed hunting and fishing but is best known for the time spent in and with the boy scouts, cub scouts, girl scouts and the Tribe of Mic O-Say which he was active with for over 25 years.

Surviving relatives include his wife, Karen of the home; 4 children, Rick Gardner and his wife Tonja, Paul Gardner, Michelle Gardner all of Trenton, and Ron Gardner and his fiancée Tracy of Wyandotte MI; 3 sisters, Ruby Ward of Trenton, Alice McKinney of Chillicothe, MO, Mary Chrisman of Trenton, MO; a brother, Billy Gardner and his wife Lori of Trenton, MO; 12 grandchildren, Ashley and her husband Jared Phillips, Madison and her fiancé Jacob Beverlin, Sidney MaCee and her husband Spencer Boyles, Salina, Chris, Hannah, PJ, Marc, Nicole, Bryant, and Jorden, 8 great grandchildren, Kammi, Zaylea, Uvia, Cereze Sophia Casen Colton, and one expected baby; a sister-in-law, Earlyne Van Hoose; close friends Jim and Judy Brill; 3 dogs Bud, Tammy Fae and Spike, four generations of nieces and nephews, as well as many “Come By Kids” that are too numerous to mention.

Those preceding him in death include his parents, a sister Elva Dean, brothers, Max, Charles, Jr, Eddie and Art, in-laws Clark and Pauline Hannah and a dog Maggie.