Mark Gardner

Mark “Rooster” Gardner, 59, died Wednesday, June 10, 2015 in Abilene. Born in Fairbanks, Alaska on July 22, 1955, Mark was the son of the late Norma Dean (Hobbs) and Richard Douglas Gardner. He attended both Cooper High School and Lubbock Monterey before graduation in 1973. He attended college before serving in the U. S. Navy. Beginning in 1980, Mark was employed by the Federal Aviation Administration as an Air Traffic Controller for 35 years, since 1996 at Abilene Regional Airport in Abilene. While at Abilene Regional Airport, Mark was instrumental in the design, development and construction of the new tower. Mark is survived by his wife, Wanetha Setzler Gardner, whom he married on February 3, 2014 in Abilene; his son, Paul Douglas Gardner of Abilene; and his daughter, Lauren Fuller and husband Shaun of Lake Stevens, Washington. Survivors also include a brother, Richard Gardner and wife Marcy of Fort Worth, Texas, and two sisters, Kathy Gardner of Fort Worth, and Marlana Deatherage of Cooper, Texas. The memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, June 13th, at the Abilene Regional Airport Hangar secured by his fellow FAA colleagues and his friends at Abilene Regional Airport. Entry to the airport hangar will be through the FedEx entrance. Arrangements are being made by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. His cremains will be placed in the Columbarium at Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene at a later date. Honorary pallbearers will be Boozefighters Chapter 20. Memorials may be sent to Rescue the Animals SPCA, 4620 North 1st Street, Abilene, TX 79603. Online condolences may be posted at www.HamilFamilyFuneralHome.com.