Alfred Emmett Gardner

The Reverend Alfred Emmett Gardner, Jr., 80, entered into the nearer presence of our Lord on July 19, 2011. He is survived by his beloved wife Phyllis; sister Dianne Lingerfelt; daughters Jan Beatty, Kimberly Forsyth, Linda Stine, Cathy Schneider, and Susan Wood; grandchildren Adam and Mark Beatty, Ryan and Vanessa Forsyth, Matthew and Scott Schneider, and Daniel Stine; great-grandchild Jaden Beatty; nieces Helen McDowell, Dona Steward, and Julie Dean; and nephew Joe Lingerfelt. Al was born in Henderson, Tennessee and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He served in the United States Air Force, graduated from the University of Memphis and received his law degree from the University of Tennessee. He was a retired FBI agent and a trust officer at El Paso National Bank. Al was a member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of El Paso 1977-78. He was ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church in 1972 and served at many churches in the Diocese of the Rio Grande and as chaplain at El Paso area hospitals. Visitation will be Saturday, July 30, 2011, at 6:00 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, La Union, New Mexico, with Memorial Service to follow at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Please visit our online register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net