Edward L. "Eddie" Gardner, III

Edward L. “Eddie” Gardner, III, 74, of Bryant, succumbed to a lengthy battle with Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease on Monday, November 11, 2024, at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock. Mr. Gardner was born on April 30, 1950, to Edward L. “Jake” Gardner, Jr. and Carolyn Matheny Gardner at the Naval Air Station located in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was educated in the Parkdale School District and graduated from Wilmot High School in 1969.  Mr. Gardner went on to earn a basketball scholarship to the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and was a member of Phi Lambda Chi Fraternity. Mr. Gardner started his professional career in the 80's as an Officer for the Arkansas Highway Patrol.  He then found the perfect career match for his personality and began working for many years in Hotel Management that took him all over the mid-South and the Southern States. He managed LaQuinta Inns & Suites from, Atlanta to San Antonio, The Woodlands and Dallas, Texas. After spending the first part of his career in Hotel Management, he later worked for Hilton Hotel Corporation in Quality Control, traveling from New York to Las Vegas and all areas in between.  In the latter part of his career, he worked delivering vehicles from Little Rock throughout the Southern states. Mr. Gardner was an avid golfer, always loved a good joke and enjoyed a good hearty laugh. He was known for being the life of the party and never met a stranger.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward L. Gardner, Jr. and Mother Carolyn Matheny Gardner Dial and two grandsons, Jacob Levart and Hunter James Kesterson.

He is survived by his son, David Edward Gardner (Robyn) of Bauxite; his daughter, Meredith Levart Kesterson (James “JJ”), of Sheridan; his beloved partner,  Ann Caldwell Ratcliff of Little Rock; his beloved sister, Carol Gardner Higginbotham (Gary) of Bryant; six grandchildren, Lexi Bowling, Christopher Gardner, Morgan Gardner Johnson (Dustin), Sarah Levart Brennan (William), Jayde Kesterson and Drake Kesterson; two nieces, Robin O. Radford and Gwendolyn Lawrence (Ryan) and five great-grandchildren: Peyton Kimsey, Beckett Johnson, Chase Weslee Johnson, Emerson Levart and Collins Brennan.

The Gardner family wishes to extend their gratitude and appreciation to Shea, Philip, Shanice, Mark and the staff and very caring and loving aids at the Green House Cottages, Liem Cottage, of Popular Grove.

Funeral services are 2 p.m., Friday, November 15, 2024 in the Jones-Hartshorn Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jared Conatser officiating. Burial will be in the Egypt Cemetery. Pallbearers are Bennie Gilliam, Rodney Kidwell, David Gardner, Christopher Gardner, Gary Higginbotham and Dennis Stevens.  Memorials may be made to the Methodist Children's Home, PO Box 56050, Little Rock, AR 72205, the Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Road, S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047 or the Scimitar Shrine Center, PO Box 255, N. Little Rock, AR  72115.

Visitation will be 1 - 2 p.m., Friday at the funeral home.