Thomas Paul Garner

On June 16, 1943, William Woodrow Garner and Daisy Helen (Apple) Garner welcomed Thomas (Tom) Paul Garner into their world in Atoka, OK. Thomas was the fifth child, third boy, in a family that would grow to ten children. The family lived in Atoka and Coalgate area until they moved to Oklahoma City when Thomas was about 12 years old. He resided in the Oklahoma City area for the remainder of his life with the exception of the four years (October, 1962 to October, 1966) he served active duty in the United States Navy at Navadunit Sandia Base in Albuquerque, NM. He departed Oklahoma City for the final time on September 5, 2023.
Tom was married to Hazel “Marcel” Phelan from November 27, 1968 until her death on November 27, 2006. He was married to Ruby Jewel Taylor from November 24, 2011 until her death on September 12, 2016. He had no children but dearly loved his many nieces and nephews and their children and they loved their Uncle Tom.
He was a hard worker whose jobs, beginning at a young age, included paper routes, restaurants, department stores, banks and Wilson Meat processing plant in Oklahoma City Stock Yards area. He was working at Wilson when he met Marcel who owned a business in Stock Yards. In December, 1976 he and Marcel opened Cattlemen’s Western Wear in the Stock Yards. He operated Cattlemen's along with some other small businesses in the Stock Yards including a knife shop, shoeshine shop and motel until his retirement in April, 2006. His love of the Stock Yards carried forward as an active participant in Stock Yards City Main Street, Inc. whose mission is to educate the public about the western heritage while preserving the history and creating a welcoming and active tourist destination.
Tom’s favorite sport was Nascar Racing. If you called him during a race, you could hear the cars roaring in the background. He also loved dogs. Over the years he and Marcel had various breeds from big German shepherds to cute little poodles that went with Marcel everywhere including Beau, Buffy and Leroy who was Tom’s last little buddy.
In addition to his wives, Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Woodrow and Daisy Garner; infant brother James Garner as well as siblings and in-laws including William (Bill) Garner; Charles (Charlie) Jerry Garner, Helen “Susie” Apple, James “Farrell” Apple, Sylvia Garner, Bill Dryden, Fred Anderson, Wayne Stark.
Of the ten Garner children, five sisters remain: Melissia “Ann” Anderson, Alice Stark, Ruth Beard and husband Willy, Pat Ruiz and husband Bob, Gwen Howard and husband Alvin. He is also survived by sister-in-law Kay Garner and many, many, many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Stock Yards City Main Street, Inc., P. O. Box 82446, Oklahoma City, OK 73148. If you mail one, please note that your donation is in honor of Tom Garner.
A viewing will be open to the public Friday, September 15, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Resthaven Funeral Home, 500 S W 104th St., Oklahoma City, OK. There will be no open casket at the Saturday ceremony.
On Saturday, September 16, 2023 a celebration of life will be held at the event center of Cattlemen’s Steak House (where Tom ate breakfast every day). A complimentary buffet breakfast will be served beginning at 9:30 a.m. The event center is on the south side of the parking lot for Cattlemen’s restaurant, 1309 S. Agnew, Oklahoma City, OK 73108.
At 11:00 a.m. an escorted processional will follow Tom’s hearse from Cattlemen's to Resthaven Cemetery for a graveside farewell.