Earnest Garner

Mr. Earnest Garner, 62, died January 14, 2009 at Pathways Hospice Center after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Mr Garner was born on April 11, 1946 in Wabash, Indiana to Earnest True Garner and Katherine Louise McNeeley.  He graduated from Northeast High School in St. Petersburg, FL in 1964 and received his bachelor's from Graceland University in 1968. Mr. Garner moved to Colorado in 1968 to take a position as youth minister for the Community of Christ.  In 1969 he married Marilyn Jones and they moved to Denver where he worked as a regional youth minister. Mr and Mrs Garner returned to Fort Collins in 1973 and in 1976 opened the first of many businesses; beginning with The Freight Broker, then The Furniture Broker, and finally Just Office Furniture.  After 28 years of retail business he sold the last of his businesses and then focused on commercial real estate in downtown Fort Collins.  He was always improving and contributing to the Fort Collins community. He was an active minister in The Community of Christ, serving as pastor for a number of years, and supporting church members in many ways. He enjoyed the mountains and led many church camps over the years. He loved entertaining, being surrounded by friends, sharing the tomatoes and raspberries that he grew in his garden, and traveling with his wife and family.   He was a member of Friendship Force of Northern Colorado. Among the many who will miss him are his wife, Marilyn; daughter, Susanna Garner of Fort Collins; sons, John Garner (Cinnamon) of Loveland, David Garner (Lisa) of Fort Collins and grandchildren, Emmaline, Juliette, Greyson, Allister and Porter; sisters Carolyn Dillon (Leonard) of Evergreen, Colorado and Sheila Simons of Pennsylvania, stepfather Jim French of Florida; nieces Barbara Sweet (Laird) of Texas, Katie Davis (Andrew) of Oklahoma, April Whistler (Jason) of Pennsylvania; grandnieces Alyssa and Dana, grandnephews Nathan, Jon, Colton, and Luke.  He will also be greatly missed by his wife's extended family, Joy Jones, Bill Jones (Ann), Betty Jones, Mary Jo Baker (Everett), Terral Jones (Pat), Gary Jones (Debbie), Gail Sundell (Tom), Stan Jones (Susan), and numerous nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his niece Dawn Rutledge and grandniece Robin.  A Memorial Service will be held at 1 pm, Saturday January 31, in the Community of Christ Activity Center, 220 East Oak Street, Fort Collins. The family requests that memorial contributions may be made to Pathways Hospice or Community of Christ in care of Goes Funeral Care, 3665 Canal Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80524.