Exie Mae Lancaster Garner, 97, of Charleston and Baytown, Texas, passed away on Friday, January 18, 2008, at The Ridgemont Assisted Living, Edgewood Summit, Charleston.
She was a graduate of Bays Chapel-Richards High School in Richards, Texas.
Exie grew up on a relatively prosperous farm near Richards, Texas, as the seventh child in a family of 11 children, but lived most of her life in Baytown, Texas, where she raised four children following the accidental death of her husband in 1949. She was fiercely independent, living alone and driving her own car until moving to The Ridgemont in Charleston one year ago.
Exie was known for her love of bird watching and for the special, tender place in her heart for children and animals. She took great pride in displaying photographs of her children, 12 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren throughout her house. She was a member of Saint Mark's Methodist Church, Baytown, Texas, for over 57 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 14 years, George Floyd Garner; and one daughter, Wanda Garner Cawley in 2002. She was also preceded in death by her parents, George Hardy and Carrie Melvina Amick Lancaster; four brothers, Collis Huntington, Hannibal Ervin, George Hardy Jr. and James King Lancaster; and six sisters, Hattie Lou Wade, Mary Mable Leonard, Ruby Lee Parr, Myrtis Evelyn Lancaster, Callie Mryle Sullivan, and Vera Maureen Hobbs.
She is survived by daughter, Vera ?Candy? Garner Bullock and husband Ray of Anderson, Texas; sons, Billy J. Garner and wife Pat of Charleston, W.Va., and Jerry Wayne Garner and wife Judy of Baytown, Texas; grandchildren, Robyn Carroll Walker, Sandra Bullock Amaral, Troy Bullock, Ryan Bullock, Melissa Garner Wylie, Jennifer Garner Affleck, Susannah Garner Carpenter, Charles Gazaway, Carrie Gazaway Stansbury, Michael Gazaway, Jerry Lee Garner and Kevin Garner; and 20 great-grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 26, at Saint Mark's United Methodist Church, Baytown, Texas. Interment will be in Earthman Memory Gardens Cemetery, Baytown, Texas.
Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, January 21, 2008, at Barlow-Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Saint Mark's United Methodist Church, 3811 N. Main St., Baytown, TX 77521, or The Hubbard Hospice House, Charleston, WV 25304.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude for the loving care and support over the last several months from Charleston, Hospice, The Ridgemont/Edgewood Summit staff and management, and Exie's personal caregivers.