Obituary of Joe F. Garner

Dr. Joe Francis �Peck� Garner, II, age 62, of Little Laurel Road Extension, Boone, passed away Saturday morning, October 26, 2013 at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Born August 11, 1951 in Jacksonville, Florida, he is a son of Sally S. Garner and the late Dr. Joe Francis Garner. Peck Garner lived a life of spirituality, dignity and grace. His warm heart and gentle hand touched more lives than we can possibly imagine, and his generosity knew no bounds. He was more than a gifted physician; he was a sailor, gardener, astronomer, cook, home brewer, cyclist, musician, animal lover, avid traveler, and Alabama football�s biggest fan. Though all of these pursuits were his passions, his most treasured role was that of a husband, father, and grandfather. Saturday morning we lost one of the greatest people to walk this earth, and those blessed enough to have known and loved him will carry his spirit with them forever. Peck is survived by his wife, Melissa McGhee Garner; daughter, Sarah Garner Cook and husband, Casey, of Granville, Ohio; sons, Joe Francis Garner III and wife, Amy, of Asheville, and Michael Leonard Garner and wife, Julie, of Chapel Hill, and David Finley Garner of the home; two grandsons, Connor Powers Cook and Oliver Benjamin Cook; his mother, Sally S. Garner of Dothan, Ala.; two sisters, Annharrow Purvis and husband, Dennis, of Nicholson, Ga., and Julie Schreiber and husband, Jerome, of Brasstown, NC; brother, Erly Garner and wife, Julie, of Hayesville; a number of nieces and nephews; and his extended family at Boone Dermatology. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Wednesday, October 30, at 12 noon at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, officiated by Father Conrad Hoover and Father David Brzoska. A gathering of friends to celebrate Peck�s life will follow services Wednesday afternoon from 2 until 4 o�clock at the Harvest House, Boone Heights Dr., in Boone. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Melanoma Research Foundation, 1411 K St., NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005. Online condolences may be shared with the family at the website austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Garner family.