Obituary of Claude Gardiner Jr.

Claude B. "Junior" Gardiner, 86, of Palm City, passed away February 18, 2015 at Treasure Coast Hospice. Claude was born 1928 in Palatka, Florida.

Junior served in the United States Army with an Engineer Company November 1950 - August 1956. Junior first came to Stuart in the early 1960's as a crane operator for the construction of the Palm City Bridge.

Thereafter, Jr. made Palm City his home and was preceded in death by his loving wife, Joyce Beecher Gardiner, of 52 years and brother , Charles Gardiner.

Junior is survived by his daughters, Barbara Clements, Los Alamos, NM and Vicki Deckard (Joshua) of Hobe Sound. Sister, Lucy Kramer (Floyd) of Uvalda, Ga; Brothers, Eugene Hitchcock (Joan) of Marietta, GA; Bobby Hitchcock of Lyons, GA; three grandsons, Joseph Deckard, Jacob Clements, and Justin Deckard; great granddaughter, Taylor Deckard. Junior's faithful friends are Jan and Bill Watson and Johnny Leighton.

Visitation: 10:00 - 11:30 am, Saturday, February 21, 2015 at Forest Hill Funeral Home, Palm City Chapel. Graveside service will follow in Forest Hills Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to Treasure Coast Hospice, 1201 SE Indian St., Stuart, FL 34997, in Junior's memory.