Service:
A Private Family Service will be held at a later date.
Ross Gardiner of Chatham died peacefully at home on Wednesday December 10, 2014 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He will be missed by his loving wife Kathryn, his three children Sherry (Jerry), Ken (Janice) and Rob, by the grandchildren he adored Ryan, Lisa, Scott (Tiffany), Andrea, Liam and Conor as well as his sister Eunice Laycraft and sister-in-law Marilyn Gardiner. He will be missed by many nieces and nephews who thought that “Uncle Ross was the coolest”.
Ross was one of six children born to the late Harold & Annie (Powell) Gardiner. He spent his childhood on the family farm in Merlin during a time when you appreciated what little you might have. Like his brothers who have all predeceased him, Ross had to quit school after grade ten and work on the farm. It was his brothers who taught him some of the most rewarding life lessons…from Glenn that there was a world to explore and that if you fell down, you had to pick yourself up and keep going; from Max to be kind to all and that humour was sometimes the best medicine; from John Claire that hard work was the foundation to a man’s success and from Murray that you should never get stuck in one way of doing things; that “planting a different crop” could have its rewards. And so it was that Ross would work in sales at Labombards until they closed and then continue on at RayMac until his retirement. He was well thought of and respected by his employers and customers alike. He was an excellent salesman and a good friend to many. Through his hard work and determination as a salesman Ross won all of the trips that he and Kathy enjoyed over the years. One of his fondest memories was the trip to Hawaii when he and his friend “accidentally” nudged another man into the pool. After having to replace the man’s cowboy hat, boots and camera, Ross decided that it was an expensive nudge but worth every penny! Ross & Kathy also enjoyed many years of going to Arizona with Ralph & Marie Cryderman and meeting new friends along the way.
Just as Ross learned life lessons from the people closest to him, he leaves behind his own legacy of life lessons…that although kittens may leave footprints on your nice clean car, they can also lead you to find the love of your life, that you can enjoy duck hunting but you shouldn’t bring a wounded duck home and keep it in your kitchen, that inner peace can be found during an afternoon of fishing on the lake and finally that you should never put all of your faith in the guy who says he’ll replace your new tricycle that he just ran over!
Also special thanks to the London Regional Cancer Centre, Dr. Rodregues, Dr. Kurvvela & Nancy, CCAC Palliative Care Team, Dr. Susan Munro and “ Ross’s Special Angels” Stacey & Nick.
Cremation has taken place. A private family service for Ross will be held at a later date when his ashes will be scattered over the places that he held closest to his heart. Blenheim Community Funeral Home entrusted with Funeral Arrangements. Friends wishing to remember Ross with a memorial donation are asked to consider CKHAHA – Oncology Baskets or the OSPCA Chatham-Kent.
