MILLINOCKET – Horace “Hoddy” T. Gardner Jr., 68, passed Jan. 21, 2010, after a long, courageous battle with heart disease and diabetes. He was born Oct. 1, 1941, in Portland, son of Faye Gardner and the late Horace T. Gardner Sr. of Old Town. Hoddy went to school in Orono and Old Town, graduating from Old Town High School in 1960. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1966, receiving an honorable discharge. He graduated from the University of Maine in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science in wildlife management. He worked for James. W. Sewell Co. from 1966 to 1978 and then Great Northern Paper Co. until his retirement in 2001. In addition to his mother, Faye, he is survived by his wife of 45 years, Phyllis; daughter, Jennifer of Bangor; son, Shane and his wife, Kendra, of Millinocket; son, Daniel and his companion, Miranda, of Millinocket; four special grandchildren, Taylor, Riley, Rhiannon and Landon; brother, Tom Gardner of Orono and his family; brother, Dennis Gardner of Bangor and his family; sister, Susan Niles of Old Town and her family; and sister, Rosanne Kennard of Tacoma, Wash., and her family. He was predeceased by his father; and one brother, Stephen of Old Town. Hoddy loved to socialize and he left behind many special friends and memories with them. He was an outdoor enthusiast and especially enjoyed spending time at the family camp with his sons and brother, Tom, bird hunting with his best friend, Dick Labby, and swimming in his pool with his grandchildren, the sunshine of his life. The Living Hope Church of the Nazarene was a special sanctuary for Hoddy and he has many special friends in the church, including Pastor Adam and Lelah Villalpando. The family thanks the staff of Millinocket Regional Hospital and Community Health & Counseling for the loving care he received. A service will be held 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, at The Living Hope Church of the Nazarene, One Palm St., East Millinocket, with a reception after. The family asks that guests please bring pictures to share and memories to write in his guest book. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to CHCS Hospice, P.O. Box 208, Lincoln, ME 04457 or The Living Hope Church of the Nazarene, One Palm St., East Millinocket, ME 04430, to benefit children in need.
HORACE ‘HODDY’ T. GARDNER JR.
