Wilford "Wil" Eli Gardner Jr.

Wilford Eli Gardner, Jr. (“Wil”) of Siloam Springs, Arkansas passed away on April 30, 2014 at the Circle of Life Hospice, Springdale, Arkansas. Wil was born Friday, October 7, 1938, to Wilford Eli Gardner and Annabelle Jones Gardner in Claremore, Oklahoma. The family moved to Siloam Springs, Arkansas, in January 1956, where Wil married Donna Sutterfield on September 8, 1957. The couple has four children. After marrying, Wil and Donna moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Wil attended the Oklahoma School of Accounting and Tulsa University. They then moved back to Siloam Springs, where he attended John Brown University, and then to Ft. Worth, Texas, where he graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Wil was a member of the Goingsnake District Heritage Association, the Trail of Tears Association, and the First Family of the Cherokee Nation. Wil spent most of his adult life as an accountant and minister of the Gospel. He was employed with Simmons Foods in Siloam Springs for thirty-one years: as payroll coordinator for the first twenty-two years, and most recently, as the first corporate chaplain for the past seven years. Wil was instrumental in starting the chaplain program at Simmons and was able to bring on board two other passionate men before his retirement in October 2013. For nearly forty years, Wil was a faithful servant as associate pastor and pastor of many churches in this area, culminating in the past four years as pastor of Falling Springs Church located west of Decatur, Arkansas. Wil is survived by his wife of 56 years, Donna Gayle Sutterfield Gardner, of the home; three daughters and one son: Lou Anne Gardner of Sour Lake, Texas, Brian Gardner and wife Cheryl of Gardner, Kansas, Robyne Locke and husband Frank of Lexington, Kentucky, and Amy Onnen and husband Steve of Siloam Springs; Nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; Two brothers and two sisters: Jack Gardner and wife Connie of Hulbert, Oklahoma, Thomas Gardner and wife Rosa of Thornton, Colorado, Ahniwake Van Vleet and husband Duane of Littleton, Colorado, and Lynda Telles of Mesa, Arizona; Donna’s brothers and sisters: Jo Ann Kincaid of Siloam Springs, Jackie Sutterfield and wife Nancy of Van Buren, Arkansas, Keith Sutterfield and wife Mary Ann of Edmond, Oklahoma, and sister in-law Muriel Sutterfield of Siloam Springs; many nieces and nephews, and numerous other family members and friends. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 2nd at the First Baptist Church of Siloam Springs. A praise service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday May 3rd also at the First Baptist Church of Siloam Springs. Following the praise service, a graveside service will be held at Falling Springs Cemetery in Decatur, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 273, Siloam Springs, AR 72761, Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, AR 72762 or to Wounded Warriors Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.

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Wilford "Wil" Eli Gardner Jr.

October 7, 1938 - April 30, 2014