John Al Garner, Jr., 81, of Wister, OK passed away Sunday, November 6, 2011 in Talihina, OK. John Al was a veteran of the US Army. He was owner of Garner’s Garage which has been passed down from father to son and has been open in Wister for over 100 years. John Al was a member of the Wister Fire Department, instrumental in its organization, was Fire Chief and retired from the Fire Department after serving over 24 years, of which he was very proud. He was a member of the Wister School Board for 25 years. He served as Mayor of Wister. He was always civic minded and very involved in many aspects of the Wister community. He was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church in Wister for over 60 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Al Sr. & Bessie LaRuth (Cox) Garner.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Dorothy of the home; daughter, Sherry Garner of the home; brother & sister in law, Jack Wayne & Jimmie Garner of Ft. Smith, AR; niece & her husband, Brenda & Jim Richardson of Bedford, TX; numerous great nieces, nephews, & cousins; brother in law, Donald Waters & wife, Earline of Ponca City, OK; special cousins, Tommy & Carolyn Ward of Wister; other relatives & loved ones; many beloved friends.
Services will be 2 pm, Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at the First Southern Baptist Church in Wister, OK with Rev. Don Taylor & Rev. PJ Atkinson officiating. Interment will follow in Ellis Chapel Cemetery, Wister, OK. Pallbearers will be Bocky Martin, Ben Curtis, Mack Essman, Carl Whitlock, Donnie DeWitt, Dean Young. Honorary pallbearers will be Ike & Ikie Caudell & Harrell Bright.
The family will be at the funeral home on Tuesday evening from 6-8 to visit with relatives & friends.