Thomas Joseph Gardner IV, “Little” Tommy, 56, was born on April 29, 1968, and passed away on July 31, 2024, in Tupelo, Mississippi. He was a devoted son, husband and father, and the best girl dad and uncle ever. He had a sense of adventure and was always ready to try something new. He was an avid cyclist and loved planning and taking bike tours all over the country with his friends. Tommy was a street art enthusiast and collector, loved all kinds of music, and was a die-hard Ole Miss Rebel fan. Throughout his lifetime, he enjoyed spending summers with his family on Squirrel Island in Maine. Tommy was the life of the party, always made people laugh, and never met a stranger.
He passed away at Sanctuary Hospice after a year-long battle with cancer surrounded by family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Karleen Vincent Gardner; daughters, Caroline and Katharine; his mother, Kathie Ross Cole of Elberta, Alabama; parents, Tommy and Sue Gardner; sister, Sadie Gardner; and niece, Sadie Mae Gardner of Tupelo, Mississippi.
Visitation will be 1 p.m. until service time Saturday, August 3, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church in Tupelo.
Memorial services honoring his life will be 2 p.m. Saturday, August 3, 2024, at the First United Methodist Church in Tupelo. Pegues Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of Tommy’s arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Squirrel Island Preservation Foundation at 254 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101, or to the Cancer Card Xchange at P.O. Box 1004, Collierville, TN 38027.
