Leo Lavelle Garner Jr

January 2, 1950 - February 28, 2021

Leo Lavelle Garner, Jr., died on Sunday, February 28th, at his home in the Old Glaise community near Possum Grape, Arkansas. First and foremost, Junior was a railroader, having spent most of his life working on and around the rails of the Missouri Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads. A union man, he was a member of the Brotherhood of Maintenance Way Employees. At one time, he had more seniority than anyone working on the Hoxie Sub. He took enormous pride in his career. Junior loved fishing on the White River as well as area lakes and ponds with family and friends. He hunted rabbits, squirrels, ducks, and deer in different seasons of the year. He was fond of gardening, especially growing tomatoes, and he read the statewide newspaper every morning. Like many, Junior was a veteran of war he neither wanted to join nor enjoyed discussing. Junior is survived by his son, Avery Blake Garner of Jacksonville, Florida, his daughter, Treasure Treece Garner of Jonesboro, his cousin and closest friend David McGhee of Possum Grape, his sister Betty Goad of Bradford, his sister and brother-in-law Barbara and Frank Collins of Searcy, his sister-in-law Sue Garner of the Old Glaise community, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lucille and Lavelle Garner, and his brothers Mack, Gerald, and Randy. A graveside service will be held at 11am on Saturday, April 10, at Coffeyville Cemetery. We ask that those in attendance wear masks and socially distance. Memorials to support the Bradford UMC food pantry and the Coffeyville Cemetery maintenance fund may be made through GoFundMe at https://gofund.me/52fb928e. For floral arrangements, contact Joyce’s Flowers at 501-344-8381. Cremation arrangements entrusted to Bradford Memorial Funeral Home of Bradford, Arkansas. www,bradfordmemorial.com