Cuit Gardner

Cuit Gardner, 93, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 4, 2018, in Santa Ana, California.

Funeral services were held Friday, February 9, 2018, under the direction of Fairhaven Memorial Park Mortuary, located in Santa Ana, CA.

Cuit was born August 1, 1924, in Marlow, to James Milton and Mary Gardner. He spent his school days at Star Country School. He was a Navy Veteran of World War II. After the Navy, he worked in oilfields in Oklahoma, Texas, and Mississippi. Cuit married his loving wife, Erma Lee Barker, on November 27, 1945. To this union were born two girls, Karen and Sharon. In 1960, the family moved to Santa Ana, CA. He drove a truck for Frank Curran Lumber Company. He then worked as a custodian for Orange Unified School District, retiring in 1985. During these years he loved working on cars - until the computer age. Cuit enjoyed camping, riding three-wheelers, and buying trailers to restore. He always was a handyman at his home from rooftop to the ground. He traveled to New York, Washington, D.C., the Caribbean, California Desert, and St. Louis. Cuit also visited family in their second home in Marlow. He was entertained for 14 years by Gidget, a miniature terrier given to him by nephew Richard Gardner.

Survivors include his wife, Erma Gardner; daughter, Karen and husband, Tim; daughter, Sharon and husband, Tom; grandchildren, Jason Richards; Brady Richards and spouse, Jamie; Kyle Richards and spouse, Casey; Justin Aylward and spouse, Julie; Travis Aylward; and Meredith (Aylward) and spouse, Christophe Godefroy. Cuit was fortunate to also have four great-grandchildren, Capri, Madaline, Caris, and Brooks.

Cuit was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, Ben, Gadie, Haskell, Jr., Howard, and Harold Dean.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Veterans of Foreign Wars by visiting the website, heroes.vfw.org.