Charles Jesse Gardner

Charles Jesse Gardner, a.k.a. Dear Ol’ Dad, 75, a man who will be remembered as a caring father, respected grandfather, and a survivor. He is survived by his son, James and his wife, Therese, who diligently and whole-heartedly cared for him in his final years; his daughter, Sandra, who admired him for the life lessons that he taught her to be an independent woman; his grandchildren, Michael, Stephen, Meghan, and Nikolai, who have inherited his tenaciousness, and gusto for life, will carry on the Gardner heritage; and loving son and brother, to his mother, Lena Greene, and sister, Hilda Hernandez.

Charles frequented Starbucks on Countryside Blvd across from Countryside Mall, sipped on coffee or tea while visiting with his many friends that he had met there. He drove around the Countryside area in his Red Scooter, wearing a Cowboy Hat, Sunglasses while listening to music on his iPod. He enjoyed a Good Cigar as well. It was not uncommon to see him driving his cart across US Highway 19 heading to K-Mart, the Cigar Store or other destinations where he had friends. While he did not speak very well because of a Stroke about 10 years ago, he always seemed to find a way to communicate with everyone he meet.

Charles would bask in the sunshine during the day in front of his home and feed the squirrels peanuts while teaching them to sit, fetch and roll-over. He was a real Charles “Dr. Dollittle” as the animals always seemed to respond to his calls.

Charles waved at everyone and you did not wave back, he would call out to you with a big “Hey Do-Do”. Even the UPS drivers new him. He could be riding in the car with his son and recognize drivers in other cars, rolled down the window and call out to them, and they would respond; “Hey Charles, how are you doing?”

Charles was a survivor from his humble beginnings in rural Kentucky, growing up fatherless in post WWII America. He met and married, Gloria Jean Bailey, and raised his family in Southern California. His familial roots led him back to Kentucky, and finally, to Florida to live with his son, Jim in the Countryside area. Despite his physical limitations, he continued to touch people and his character shined through, displaying, until his final breath, the survivor instincts, that got him through life and he passed on to his family.

His earthly vessel no longer able to sustain his spirit, he crossed over on January 17, 2014, to be with Our Father and his father, George Hough Gardner, who was killed in WWI defending his country.

He will long be remembered for his life lessons of strength, courage, self-determination, and resiliency that have proven to be a Gardner family trait.

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