Michael Rae Gardner

We are saddened to announce the passing of Michael Rae Gardner, on December 5th, 2022, at the age of 83. Mike was a loving and devoted son, brother, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, who will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. Mike grew up and went to school in Ramona and Bartlesville Oklahoma. Mike played basketball and baseball across the area during his youth. Mike was a gifted and talented Baseball player, he went on to play baseball at Northeastern Oklahoma College, where he played short stop and was recognizably a local talent, he was even invited to try out for the St Louis Cardinals. Mike was married twice which blessed him with 3 loving children that he cherished. Mike was always a passionate fisherman, his skills included deep sea fishing, professional bass fishing guide, building, and designing his own bass lake in Rochelle, Texas, and even becoming a known fish whisperer. Mike also loved to play golf; he was an accomplished golfer with many awards from different courses across the country. Mike’s career was in teaching, he taught for a short time in Ramona Oklahoma. Mike in his later years, taught and coached boys golf in Rochelle, Texas where he was most notably a loved and highly respected girls basketball coach, known in the area as “Coach Gardner”. Mike took his Girls basketball team to multiple championships over the years. Mike was a kind and generous person; he loved a good prank or joke. He made friends easily everywhere he went. Mike is survived by his brother Jim Gardner of Ramona Oklahoma, his children, Dianna Cook-Berry of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Eric Gardner of San Antonio, Texas and Jason Sawyer of San Antonio, Texas. Mike’s grandchildren Rebecca Cook of Plover, Wisconsin, Michael Cook of Yukon, Oklahoma, Ryan and Julia Delaquis of San Antonio, Texas and Abby, Jack, and Joshua Sawyer of San Antonio, Texas and his great-grandchildren Mya Fair and Cooper Cook. He was preceded in death by his loving parents Orville and Lenora Gardner of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, his sister Myrna Wilcox Margworth, his sister-in-law Mary Gardner and his beloved dog Max. A Memorial Service in honor of Michael Gardner will be held on Saturday, February 11th, 2023, at 1:00 pm at Stumpff Funeral Home in Bartlesville Oklahoma. All are welcome to come and celebrate Michael's life and share memories with his loved ones.

Michael Rae Gardner

October 21, 1939 - December 5, 2022