Bill Gardner - 1929 To 2011

[montanadreams]

I was asked by Bill's son Don Gardner to pass along this obituary for anyone who knew his dad. Bill Gardner was one of the legendary saddlemakers in Sheridan, Wyoming. He co-authored the book on Sheridan Style carving along with Clinton Fay.

Here is the announcement:

William R. (Bill,Billy) Gardner, June 1, 1929 - July 15, 2011 died at Sheridan Manor with his wife and children present.

Bill was born in Spokane, WA and spent his very early childhood living at the M&M ranch in Buffalo, WY. He grew up living at the Neponset Stud Farm west of Sheridan. He attended Beckton School and graduated from Sheridan High School in 1947. Bill spent a lot of his youth riding young polo pony prospects at the Neponset. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1950 and was stationed at Laredo, TX and an Air Force refueling station in Greenland during the Korean conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1953. Bill married Jane A. Franklin on April 19, 1954 and he and Jane raised 5 children in Sheridan. At a young age, Bill learned leathercraft from Don King and working leather became his lifelong profession. Bill worked at a number of saddle shops including Porter's in Phoenix, AZ and in Sheridan at Rudy Mudra's, Ernst's and King's Saddlery and he later was self-employed.

Bill was widely recognized as a master leather carver and saddle maker. During his career he made many saddles, countless belts, western tack and a variety of finely tooled leather items for people in the Sheridan area and beyond and many rodeo trophy saddles including several saddles for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Notably, he is the 2011 recipient of the Don King Award presented by the Academy of Western Artist for lifetime achievement in saddle making. He was member of the Kalif Shrine, the American Legion and the Elks. He was preceded in death by his parents, William C. and Jewel Garder and by infant son, John Michael. He is survived by his wife Jane of Sheridan, daughter Catherine Beels (Paul) of Buffalo, WY, son Don (Deborah) of Corvallis, MT, daughter Peggy King (Dan) of College Station, TX, daughter Julie Gardner of Sheridan, son Ted of Gillette, sisters Nancy Miles of Parkman, WY and Linda Johnson of Casper and by 9 grandchildren (John, Christine and Grace King of College Station, Amelia and Nathan Gardner of Corvallis, MT, Will and Thomas Saffel of Sheridan and Taylor and Brynne Gardner of Sheridan).

Jane will be forever grateful for the wonderful care provided to Bill and to Jane by the staffs at Westview and Sheridan Manor nursing homes. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorials be donated to the Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library, Shriner's Children's Hospitals and Holy Name School.