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Marvin Thomas Gardner, 72, of San Antonio, TX gained his angel wings on May 22, 2026 surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was born on August 28, 1953 in Little Rock, Arkansas to Earl Griffin and Martha Ann {Atkins} Gardner. After graduating from Little Rock’s McClellan High School in 1971, Marvin worked as a bricklayer, building many of the Pizza Huts in central Arkansas. Marvin joined Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as a Directory Assistance Operator in 1975 before marrying the love of his life, Diane McMurry in 1976.
In the years following, Marvin, Diane and their daughter Betsy moved with AT&T from Little Rock to St Louis, MO, before retiring in San Antonio, TX on February 20, 2020 with almost 45 years of service.
Marvin was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved sister, Mary Gardner Garrison. He is survived by Diane and daughter Betsy (Beck and granddaughter Bailey). Loving memories of Marvin will live on through his brothers Gary (Rhonda), Randall (Mary), sister-in-law Melinda McMurry Bell (Ivan), his nieces and nephews: Erin Coney (Chad), Kim Luck (Kevin), Brian Garrison (Mychelle), and Desiree’ Barton (Eric). He will also be remembered by his great nieces and nephews: Aly Pruitt (Hank), Gracee Linville, Kyle Luck, Kent Luck, Kayla Otts (Hunter), Bryce Garrison, Chandler Garrison (Audrey), Calista Garrison, Kyra Garrison, Evelyn Barton, Tobias Barton, and Catherine Barton, as well as many great great nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors.
Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, May 30,, 2026 at Roller McNutt Funeral Home in Conway, AR starting at 10am (Live-Streamed Services), followed by burial at McFarland’s Cemetery in Banks, AR. There will be no scheduled visitation.
In lieu of flowers, Marvin would appreciate donations to McFarland’s Cemetery Association in Banks, AR. Checks would be made out to McFarland’s Cemetery Association, C/O Ginger Ricks; mailed to 125 Bradley Road 377, Banks, AR 71631.
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Jacque Lynn DeLille (Harvey)
Dear Diane,
Thank you for reaching out to us. The following are some of the memories Kenny and Marvin shared at McDonald’s.
Leon Hadley and Hank Van Rossum were partners in two of the older style McDonald’s franchises in Little Rock, AR. One, was on South University and the other, was on JFK. Around 1968, they opened a new store on Rodney Parham Road and another store which was near completion on Geyer Springs. Marvin and I met in the 10th grade, probably in Industrial Arts. The summer between the 10th and 11th grade we met again while training in the Rodney Parham location. We were going to be part of the crew at the Geyer Springs location which was opening in 2 weeks. On Opening Day, I was on the front line and Marvin was in the trenches “The Grill”. In a very short time, I was promoted to Swing Shift Manager and Marvin was promoted to Crew Chief over the Grill and the personnel. Just think of that, two 16 year old boys running a Mc Donald’s. We were the highest paid of the hourly employees, minimum wage was $1.60 and we were paid $2.25. We were a TEAM!
It goes without saying, friends that work hard together play hard together and we did! After we closed the store at night during the summer when school wasn’t a burden to us, we would head up to the Conway Lake spillway to fish. OR we would just hang out in the parking lot at Geyer Springs until 1 or 2 a.m. chatting with our best friends…The Pulaski County Deputies or Little Rock Police. We knew all of them by name. Many times we would unlock the doors and make them a pot of coffee. We always had a few fried pies left over.
I could go on for hours sharing the memories at that Geyer Springs McDonald’s. At that time, gas was 25.9 cents a gallon. We were two 16 year olds just hanging out, no drugs, no drinking eh maybe a Marlboro Mc Clellan did have a smoking area. Marvin was my good friend and I will miss him but I know we will meet again. May our Lord wrap His arms around you and Betsy.
Kenny & Jacque