Charles Gilbert Gardner Jr., also known as "Sonny" or "Charlie" to his friends and family, was born February 18, 1946 in Deming, New Mexico. Born to Charles Gilbert Gardner, Sr. and Lola May (Prestridge) Gardner, he was the baby and the only boy of the family. He had three older sisters, Dorothy Louise, Margaret Norene, and Geneva May Gardner. The Gardner's moved many times over the years, first moving from Deming to the Shrine Mine near Silver City, NM.The Shrine became a beloved place that would hold a great importance and peace for many generations to come. The Gardner's' were known to many as a close-knit, hardworking family full of generosity, hospitality, and love. This was the foundation on which Sonny lived his life. After leaving the Shrine, the Gardner family moved to Silver City, then Hatchita, New Mexico and eventually Las Cruces, where he graduated from Las Cruces High School in 1964. He attended New Mexico State University and worked at his dad's service station. While working there, he got a call from his dad to go help a young woman on the interstate with a flat tire.
When he arrived, he realized this girl was Jacque Carter, a close family friend from childhood. His family and hers had been camping and fishing together for years. This service call turned quickly from changing a flat tire into a milkshake date and ended up creating a love lasting a lifetime. (The family still thinks that Granddad may have set this up on purpose). Sonny and Jacque married in 1967 in Silver City, New Mexico. A year later they had their first son, Russell Wayne in 1968, followed by Kevin Troy in 1971 and Stanley Ray in 1972. They eventually added a girl, Carrie Lynell, in 1976. Jacque and Sonny lived a modest life full of love and great friends for 58 years. They had four kids, nine grandchildren, and six great grandchildren with more on the way. Sonny was a loving husband, father, Papa, and PopPop. He valued his family above all.
Sonny believed in hard work and helping others, a trait taught to him by his parents. He had a heart of gold. A gentle, loving man with lots of talent, a great sense of humor and a love for conversation, Sonny never met a stranger. He had many treasured friends old and new. He could strike up a conversation with anyone and make new friends everywhere he went; the grocery store, RV dealership, the lake, and birthday parties. Many strangers quickly became family to him and were invited to the Gardner Family and Friends Campout every year.
Everyone who knew him adored him and enjoyed his sharp wit. He loved a good joke and could be a little ornery. Sonny took great pride in having many friends and appreciated each one of them.
Camping, fishing, and hunting were some of his favorite pastimes. Knowledgeable and passionate, Sonny spent hours teaching his family how to tie knots for fishing rigs and how to work canyons when hunting deer. He put in for hunts every year and loved a pot of camp coffee and a cold burrito from his pack. These trips were always full of stories of his life, family, great food, and 42 games.
A Boilermaker & Welder by trade, taking his apprenticeship as a Boilermaker 1967- 1969, Sonny worked in Hurley for Kennecott in Santa Rita and Hurley. After retiring from the mines in 1997, he started welding from home with his own business, Sonny's Welding. From wrought iron work and trailers to spark plug tractors and hand-cut silhouettes, he was a meticulous craftsman.
Sonny loved his trade, sharing his knowledge with anyone who wanted to learn. All of his kids were taught to weld, and most of his grandkids as well. He helped coach Ag Mechanics for Silver City FFA when his boys were in high school and coached again for Cliff FFA while his grandson was in FFA, largely contributing to a state winning team that placed 5th in welding at the National FFA contest. He enjoyed sharing his wealth of knowledge and was extremely proud to have inspired several to make welding their career.
Sonny coached Little League for many years, volunteering many hours to whatever activities his kids had an interest in. He adopted many kids and grandkids throughout the years, providing support, advice, and wisdom. Sonny encouraged them all to be honest, hardworking people and tried to instill a work ethic into each of them. He was admired by many, a trusted friend, an adopted Dad and Papa to more than just his family.
His faith in God was strong and he saw His work in everything. The perfect design of a wildflower or beauty of a sunset could spark an incredible conversation about grand design. He always said the he felt closer to God outdoors than anywhere else.
Sonny is survived by his loving wife and greatest support, Jacque Dee (Carter) Gardner; his children: Russell Gardner (Lucinda) and Kevin Gardner (Kathleen) of Las Cruces NM, Stan Gardner (Liz) of Silver City, and Carrie (Gardner) Rice (Leonard) of Glenwood, NM.; his grandkids: Tyler Gardner (Sydney), Raelyn Ogaz (Lucas), Julia Gardner, Madeleine Gardner, Sarah Gardner, KyLee Pearson (Josh), Clay Rice (Emma) and Chance Rice; great grandchildren: JW Gardner, Lane and Remi Ogaz; Heather, Nikole and Carter Pearson; his aunt, Thelma (Gardner) Pelayo of Deming, New Mexico; his sister-in-law, Dotty Carter of Silver City; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Gib and Lola (Prestridge) Gardner; father and mother-in-law, Ray and Donna (Smith) Carter. His sisters, Dorothy (Gardner) Taylor, her husband John and children Glen, Kathy and Bonnie Taylor, Norene (Gardner) Tow, Geneva (Gardner) Adams, and her son Henry Adams as well as his brother in laws Gale and Jep Carter and sister-in-law Elaine (Cothrun) Carter, his beloved granddaughter Megan Nicole Gardner, and many other family and friends.
Graveside Services will be held at the Cliff Gila Mesa Cemetery in Gila, NM on August 30, 2025 at 10:00AM, with Pastor David Goble officiating. Join the family in fellowship for potluck after services.
Cremation will take place at Terrazas Crematory. Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory "Trust care for the ones you love" ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.
