Dewayne Garner

Dewayne "Butch" Garner was born July 27, 1942 in Amity, Ark. After graduating from Amity H.S. he also graduated from Capital City Business College and The Arkansas Broadcasting School. He met his wife of 53 years, Carolyn Self, and they were married November 22, 1961. He joined the U.S. Army in 1962. After spending 22 months in Asmara, Ethiopia working for the Armed Forces Radio and TV, he was deployed and saw combat in the Dominican Republic in 1964. Upon returning home, he worked as an announcer at several radio stations in Arkansas (K.D.X.E., K.L.R.A. and K.B.H.S.) and became the station manager at K.B.H.S. in Hot Springs. He owned his own Air Conditioning Co. through the 70's and reenlisted with the Army National Guard in 1975. In 1981, he went back on full time, active duty and eventually achieved the rank of E9, Sergeant Major (the highest N.C.O. rank in the Army). During this time, he earned an Associate's degree in Marketing and began his own Marketing Co. (A.R.C. Marketing). In 2011, he was ordained as a deacon by his church, Panola Missionary Baptist. In 2012, he surrendered his life to the ministry and preaching the gospel. His greatest loves, other than his Lord and his family, was his love of playing guitar and singing and hunting and fishing with family and friends. He is survived by his wife Carolyn, two sons, David (wife Lisa) & Chris (wife Pamela), sister Doris Jean Cruse (husband Hugh), six grandchildren; Amy (husband Matt), Amberly, Rebecca (husband Lance), Garrett, Cole David and Carissa Lynne and countless other family and beloved friends. Visitation will be Thursday, October 23, 12-2 p.m., at Arkansas Funeral Care in Jacksonville, Ark. Funeral will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Graveside services will be held Friday, 10 a.m. at the Murfreesboro City Cemetery. www.arkansasfuneralcare.com.