Baxter Gardner

Baxter Lynn Gardner passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on January 9, 2017, after a brief illness. In retirement he had cared at home for 13 years for his high school sweetheart and loving wife of 62 years, Geralene, who predeceased him on January 20 of last year due to Alzheimer’s disease. A native of Lancaster, South Carolina, Baxter relocated to the Space Coast in 1959 after four years and an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy. He had a varied and distinguished career as a radar technician, computer hardware manager, and frozen yogurt shop entrepreneur. He loved slow-pitch softball and played in local industrial leagues for 19 years. Later in life when doctors would ask about old injuries that showed up on x-rays, the answer was always, “oh, that was from softball, the time when…” One summer he played in the men’s league, coached his son in the boys’ league, and coached his wife and daughters in their leagues as well! He was a hunter and fisherman and enjoyed these activities most with his only son. He is survived by his daughter Debra of Frederick, Maryland, son Gregory of Melbourne, daughter Deirdre Warner of Gainesville, grandchildren Randall, Rachel, Kyle, Rex, and Harper, and great-grandchildren Destiny, Cassidy and Rihanna. Memorial arrangements will be private. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Friends of Bull Creek, Inc., a conservation organization of which Baxter was an active member and supporter.