Robert E. Garner

Robert E. Garner of Amarillo, age 67, died May 25. Graveside services were held on Saturday, May 28, at Sharp Cemetery in Rockdale. A memorial service was held on Tuesday, May 31 at 2 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church in Amarillo. Dr. Jim Bandkhead and Mr. Max Brown officiated.

Mr. Garner was born December 2, 1937, in Milam County. He graduated from Sharp High School and  received his undergraduate degree at Texas Tech University and his law degree from Baylor University School of Law. His 45-year law practice began in Lubbock, and in 1977 he moved to Amarillo. He was a partner of Whittenburg, Whittenburg, Garner & Stein at the time of his death. He was certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and certified in Civil Trial and Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

In December 2003 he was honored by The Panhandle Trial Lawyers Association as its first recipient of the Temple Houston Award in recognition of his skills and successes as a trial lawyer. During his career Bob Garner represented people of all walks of life and various businesses.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Walden Garner; four children, Synde Garner and Ronald Matschek of Amarillo, Jan Garner Tankersley of Lubbock, Robert Kyle Garner of Amarillo, and Jennifer Garner and Tim Nicholson of Amarillo; eight grandchildren, Carter, Kelsey, Camron, and Casen Matschek, Avrey and Allye Tankersley, Dolan and Margaret Nicholson; and five sisters Mildred Holcomb of Lubbock, Bonnie and Clayton Dark of Lufkin, Helen and Henry Abel of Buckholtz, Martha and Don Garth of Lubbock, and Beverly and Norman Key of Austin.

The family suggests memorials be to the Sharp Cemetery Association, 7949 North FM 487, Rockdale, Texas 76567 or BSA Hospice in care of Olivia’s Angels, P.O. Box 950, Amarillo, Texas 79176-0001.