Philip K. Gardner, Sr.

Philip Kent Gardner, Sr., age 9l, was reunited with his sweetheart on November 30, 2006. He was born November 26, 1915 to Lovina Eagar and Leroy Eugene Gardner, descendants of pioneer families who settled in Northeastern Arizona. His father died when he was three and he helped his mother raise his other siblings in Woodruff. They all preceded him in death, Leo, Pearl, Bruce, Leslie and Jean. He cared for his ailing mother until her death in 1971. Phil met his sweetheart, Margaret Elizabeth Brooks ("Scoots") while attending Arizona State Teachers College in Flagstaff. They were later married on January 17, 1944. That union was sealed in the Mesa, Arizona temple and was blessed with five children, all of whom survive their father; Philip Kent, Jr. of Phoenix, Duane (Julie) of St. George, Utah, Leslie (Jim) Tomerlin of Lordsburg, NM, Craig (Shauna) of Pocatello, Idaho and Anita (David) Beaty of Mesa. He is also survived by 30 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. Margaret preceded him in death in 1997 and he was also preceded in death by a grandson, Patrick. Phil served a two and a half year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Spanish American Mission, which covered three states at the time. Most of his mission was served in southern Texas. It was on his mission that he learned to love the Spanish language and spent a lifetime teaching it to others. As part of the Greatest Generation, Phil served in the Air Force during World Was II as a bombardier in the European theater. His precision and accuracy earned him the position of lead bombardier of his squadron. As such, he chose the target and all squadron bombs were dropped on his signal. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for valor in his efforts to navigate and pilot his B-24 back to base after a difficult and harrowing mission. Phil is best known for his contribution to his church and community. He taught high school in Holbrook for his entire career (35 years). After graduating from Arizona State Teachers College, he chose to return close to home to start teaching. He never left. He was Holbrook's Man of the Year in 1982. He served in many positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints including Sunday School teacher, scoutmaster, Bishop and Temple worker. He and Margaret served a second mission in Los Angeles, Chile from 1984-1985. His work with boys in the Boy Scouting program is hard to match. All the boys he taught how to fish, tie knots, camp and be better citizens is his legacy as a Scoutmaster. Many of those boys maintained contact with Phil until his passing. Phil's passion in life was fishing. There wasn't a weekend that went by that he wasn't on a lake or streamor wanting to be on a lake or stream. He had a fish story for every occasion and was always willing to share it. All stories were told with a big smile and the desire to go back and do it again. We'll miss those fish stories. He was known as coach, teacher, professor, maestro, scoutmaster, athletic director, mentor, husband and dad. To most people, he was and always will be just Phil. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday December 9th atthe Holbrook Stake Center, The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints with a visitation one hour prior to services at the church and from 6:30-8:30 P.M. Fri. Dec. 8th at Owens Mortuary in Holbrook. Burial will follow in the Woodruff Cemetery. Owens Mortuary of Holbrook handled arrangements.