Jack Garner

Jack Garner, lifelong resident of Tippah County, passed away on September 25, 2025, at the age of 92 in Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo, MS, following a brief illness. Jack was born in Dumas, MS, on September 16, 1933, the son of Jodie Albert “Abb” Garner and Edith Johnnie Stanford Garner. He was a graduate of Buena Vista High School. Funeral services honoring Jack’s life will be Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at McBride Funeral Home in Ripley at 2:00, with visitation preceding the service at 12:00. Jack along with his brother, Bon, farmed many years together and operated a couple of trailer trucks hauling agricultural and wood products. During the 1960’s Jack served as manager for the Ripley Dairy buying milk from over 450 dairy producers in Tippah county and helping many producers build milk parlors. In the early 80’s Jack went to work for the Tippah County Coop spreading fertilizer and lime for over 30 years retiring when he was 82 year old. He always said this was one of the worst days of his life when he was no longer able to go to work each day. As we would ride the county roads he would point out all the fields he had been on over the years and the people he knew. Jack always enjoyed showing folks the Buena Vista basketball team picture from his sophomore year of high school and sharing his excitement traveling to Jackson in the state tournament. According to him a couple of the starters were not allowed to go because they skipped practice to get a haircut, so the coach told him the day before that he was going. He even got to play a couple minutes even though the team lost. Jack was an avid quail hunter for many years and would hunt seven days a week no matter the weather. He loved training bird dogs and sharing the quail with the family along with biscuit and gravy prepared to perfection by his wife Gayle. Jack loved his family and was always available to help in any way he could while caring for his wife Gayle for many years who suﬀered from MS. He loved playing with his grandkids and letting them help in the garden and yard. He continued to mow his yard, although dangerous, until he was 91 and not able to see. Although he no longer mowed he still directed others how to do it and how to maintain the mowers. As a longtime member of the Ripley Church of Christ he always enjoyed sharing his candy with the kids after Bible class each Sunday. Probably his greatest enjoyment over the years was playing his guitar and singing along with many of his friends several times each week. It was a sad day when he was unable to continue that but he would always get his guitar out when family and friends visited. There are a lot of pictures and videos to remember those good times. Most folks in his community remember him sitting in his swing each day watching and waving at the traﬃc. He never got over the amount of traﬃc and would always wonder where are all these people are going. For those of you that honked their horn and waved each time you passed, thank you, even though sometimes he would say he had no idea who that was. He always felt blessed to be able to stay by himself until the end. He cooked the same breakfast each morning for many years including one egg, one sausage or one slice of bacon, half a biscuit and a slice of toast. He had it down to a routine and best not to interrupt. His memories will be treasured by his children Al (Sharen) Garner of Searcy AR and Regina (Billy) Morton of Ripley, MS, a sister Jo McBryde of Ripley, MS and a brother Bill (Linda) Garner of Tupelo, MS. He leaves four grandchildren including Sam (Rachel) Garner of Medford, OR, Amy (John) Gernenz of Searcy, AR, Devin Morton of Ripley, MS, and Dana (Barrett) Gray of Tupelo, MS. He leaves five great-grandchildren including Brayden Murphy, Liam Murphy and Milla Quattlebaum all of Searcy, AR, Amelia Gray of Tupelo, MS and Iliana Garner and Theo Garner of Medford, OR. He is preceded in death by his wife Gayle Franklin Garner, three brothers including Bon Garner, Gene Garner and Danny Garner and two sisters including Carolyn Dunnam and Shirley Moﬃtt. Pallbearers: Jonathan Morrison, Greg Dunnam, Rodney McBryde, James Willingham, Devin Morton, Liam Murphy Honorary Pallbearers: Edward Willingham, Paul Lowery, Allen Garner and music friends Harvey Childers, Woodie Childers, Billy Hugh McBryde, Vernice Clemmer, Marty Murray and a host of others over the many years. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo, MS. Donations can be made directly on their website (sanctuaryhospicehouse.com).

Jack Garner

September 26, 2025