Hollister resident
Clifford E. Garner died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2003 at his home in Hollister. He was 85.
Mr. Garner was born in Buck Prairie, Mo. His family came to California in the 1930s. In 1939 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for three and a half years in the Aleutian Islands during World War II.
While at home on leave shortly after Christmas 1944 he met Mary Ellen Bethers. Three days later they were engaged and they married Aug. 29, 1946 and settled in Kellogg, Idaho. They moved to San Benito County in 1958 and Mr. Garner worked for BEGE Manufacturing for many years, then in heavy construction for 34 years, including construction of the San Luis Dam.
His interests included making furniture, hand-crafting personalized knives and raising tomatoes. He was also a life-long baseball fan. His greatest pleasure and priority was being with and caring for his family.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen, of Hollister; his children, Carol Prater of Hollister, Jesse Garner and his wife, Doreen, of Hollister and James Garner and his wife, Andrea, of Goodyear, Ariz.; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son, Duane Garner, in 2000.
Visitation will be Thursday, Jan. 16 from 9-10 a.m. at Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home. Graveside services with full military rites will follow at 11 a.m. Thursday at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella.
Memorial services will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses on Fallon Road in Hollister.
