Obituary for John Gard
Ponca City Now - January 8, 2018 3:20 pm
John E. Gard – Veteran
(January 1, 1943 – January 8, 2018)
John E. Gard of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died early Monday morning, January 8, 2018, in the AllianceHealth – Ponca City at the age of 75 years.
John E. Gard was born on January 1, 1943, in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, to Robert Walter and Frances Bernice (Blubaugh) Gard. He grew up in Tonkawa and attended Tonkawa Public Schools before entering the United States Navy. Following his discharge in 1966 he returned to Kay County and began working in the oilfields. He married Judy Mae Wilson on May 18, 1973, in Billings, Oklahoma, and they settled in Midwest City for a short time. Later that year they returned to Blackwell where he continued working in the oilfields. He later began working as a machinist for L. A. Boilerworks in Blackwell and worked there until his retirement in 2005. He later took a part-time job with the Blackwell Public Schools. He was a member of the First Free Will Baptist Church and the Pairs and Spares Sunday School Class. He also held membership in the Streeters Car Club. He enjoyed attending classic car shows and entering his 1952 Chevy truck in the various shows. He also enjoyed family gatherings, especially those that included his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife Judy Gard of Blackwell; three daughters, Tonya Kelly and husband Brian of Blackwell, Kristi Wolfe and husband J. D. of Bartlesville, and Trisha Johnson and husband Kris of Newkirk; two brothers, Terry Gard of Shawnee and Jim Gard and his wife Sandy of Edmond; six grandchildren, Megan Hutton and husband Nick of Edmond, Morgan Smith and husband Owen of Ponca City, Josh Kelly of Blackwell, Braden Johnson of Tulsa, Chantelle Johnson of Newkirk, and Aaliah Johnson of Newkirk; and two great grandchildren, Aubree and Hannah Kelly of Blackwell.
He was also preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Jerry Gard.
Services are scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 10th in the First Free Will Baptist Church in Blackwell with Rev. Kevin Bookout officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery. Military honors will be presented by the United States Navy.
Casketbearers will be Rich Johnson, Nolan Jones, Frank Johns, Wayne Jackson, Dennis Moss and Randy Wickham. Serving as honorary casketbearers will be Richard Moses, Jack Bookout and his many classic car show friends.
A memorial has been established in his honor with the First Free Will Baptist Church in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.