George Edman Garner, 80, of Buchanan, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, July 10, 2015, surrounded by his family that he loved so much. Mr. Garner suffered from Myasthenia Gravis, a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy for almost 29 years. While in relatively good health several months ago, this disease rapidly took over and ended his life.

Mr. Garner was born on April 6, 1935, in Tallapoosa, Georgia. He was the youngest of three boys born to William James and Sarah Catherine "Carrie" Elizabeth Pope Garner. Mr Garner attended Steadman School where he played basketball and baseball.

Mr. Garner was a U.S. Army National Guard Ready Reserves veteran, having served in Company C, 10th Battalion, 81st Infantry during the Vietnam era.

Mr. Garner was a member and Deacon of Friendship Baptist Church in Rockmart, GA, having served previously as a Deacon at Crossroads Baptist Church in Tallapoosa, GA. He was a hard worker with a strong work ethic. Mr. Garner retired not once, but four times. Most of his career consisted of long haul trucking. He once said that he had hauled everything from soup to hay throughout mainland U.S.A. and all of the eastern Canadian provinces. Mr. Garner retired from the United States Postal Service in 2004 as a truck driver. He worked an additional three years delivering motor homes across the country with his wife of almost 59 years by his side, sight seeing as they worked.

Rarely idle, Mr. Garner was a gifted man of many talents. Despite the fact that he never graduated high school, he was often described as smart and borderline genius. He could build or make almost anything imaginable, taking pride in everything he did, whether it be the dual riding lawn mower he built to cut their big yard, the double wedding ring quilt he sewed, or the handmade wooden cradles he made for his great-grandsons upon their birth. Mr. Garner loved to tinker, anything having to do with tractors, singing Sacred Harp,and his family. He cooked supper every Sunday for the entire family up until two weeks before he passed away. When asked what his three favorite things to do in life were he answered, "Cook, eat, and see other people eat." And he loved his grandchildren and great-grandsons immensely. They always brought a smile to his face regardless of how he was feeling on the day they came to visit. Mr. Garner loved to laugh and make people smile. Particularly fond of Wynn Varble, he loved to tell jokes, was always carrying on about something, and he had such a positive outlook on life.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his older brothers, Robert Garner, and C.W. Garner, who passed away on June 5, 2015.

Survivors include his wife of almost 59 years, Lucy McCray Garner of Buchanan, to whom he was married on September 7, 1956; two daughters, Donna Garner Bell of Tallapoosa, and Peggy Garner Morris of Cedartown; and a son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Tranice Garner of Buchanan; five grandchildren, Michael Hurley, Kaley Morris Hatch, Matt (Coral) Garner, Krysten Garner, and Paige Gilbert; three great-grandsons, Bentley Garner, Gunner Hatch, and Ian Garner; sisters-in-law, Evelyne Garner of Rockmart, and Audrey Ruth Garner of Tallapoosa.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 11, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Hutcheson's Memorial Chapel and Crematory in Buchanan. Funeral services will be conducted on Sunday, July 12, at 3:00 p.m. from Friendship Baptist Church in Rockmart with Elder Colt Deems and Elder Eddie Davidson officiating with Krysten Garner delivering the Eulogy. Mr. Garner will lie in state for one hour prior to the service while music will be furnished by Sacred Harp singers. Additional music will be rendered by Kaley Hatch, Tracy Clemons, and Anna Roberts.

Interment will follow at Crossroads Baptist Church in Tallapoosa, GA with Elder Anthony Campbell officiating and Military Funeral Rites being conferred by the Haralson County Veterans Association. Pallbearers include: Michael Hurley, Matt Garner, Keith E. Brown, Ricky Garner, Jack Martin, David Sloman, Kelsey Collum, Brian McCray, Scott McCray and Gene Wallace.

You may post an on-line condolence at www.hutchesonsmemorialchapel.com

Hutcheson's Memorial Chapel & Crematory of Buchanan is in charge of the arrangements.