Obituary of Corey Lane Gardner

Corey Lane Gardner, age 53, passed away on Monday, July 17, 2023, in Dallas, TX. Funeral services will be at 2:00pm, Monday, July 24, 2023, in The Chapel at Griffin ~ Hillcrest Funeral Home with Pastor Mike Joe officiating. Interment to follow in McAlister Cemetery, Overbrook, Okla. Corey was born on July 23, 1969, to Myrna Lou LaFontain and Daniel Lee Gardner. He was raised in Dallas, Texas until he entered his high school years. During high school he lived in Marietta, Okla. He was on the 1987 Marietta High School football team that won the Class A State High School Championship, which Corey was very proud of. After high school, Corey returned to the DFW area. He worked for Primrose Oil in Dallas, Texas for 32 years. He married Cherie Renee Cooke and they had two sons, Colton and JD. Corey was an avid fan of the Oklahoma Sooners and the Dallas Cowboys. He was a big guy, with a big smile and laugh to match it. He loved having a good time and being with family and friends. He loved a good game of horse shoes and dominos. Once he called you friend, you were friends for life. He was also a fierce defender of family and friends. Corey was preceded in death by his parents, Myrna Lou LaFontain and Daniel Lee Gardner, brother, Paul Daniel Gardner, ex-wife, Cherie Gardner and grandmother, Gladys Yearby Baptiste. He was survived by his sons, Colton Lane Gardner and wife Leticia, of Royce City, Texas, and James Daniel Gardner of Mesquite, Texas. Granddaughters, Amaya Renee, Liberty Layne, Aleia Erin and Ava Lane Gardner, sister, Dana Lee (Gardner) Johnson and husband, Jon of Midlothian, Texas, nephews, Sean Michael Johnson and Kelly Miles Johnson. Half-siblings, Leah Pentilla, Sharon Cutting, and Anthony Hughes of Washington State, aunt, Diane Baptiste Thorne and husband, Robert of Midlothian, Texas and a host of loving cousins and numerous close friends. Pallbearers are Clint Ingram, Robert Ingram, Gabriel Martinez, Miko Gonzales, Joe Trevino and Dustin Brokeshoulder. Honorary pallbearers are Curtis Ingram, Terry Ingram, Bobby-Joe Ingram, James Noahubbi, Jr., Anthony Hughes, Darrell Pettigrew, Jr. and Michael Baptiste.