Key West Citizen, 5 February 1926

Whitmore Gardner Died This Morning at an Early Hour - Was Former Chief of Police of Key West for Period of Sixteen Years. Funeral Services this Afternoon

Whitmore J. Gardner, former chief of police in this city for sixteen years, a prominent and influential citizen, died at his home, 1221 Petronia Street, at 1 o'clock this morning following an illness of a year or more. He was a few months past 57 years of age,

Mr. Gardner was born in Key West in 1868, the family moving to Georgia in 1871, but returning to reside in this city while he was yet a small boy. With that exception, his life has been spent in Key West. He was a constant and conscientious exponent of the law and order and Christianity. While holding the important office of chief of police for two eight-year periods, he was at the same time active in the cause of Christ, being choir leader in the Fleming street Methodist church and Sunday school teacher there for many years, his whole heart and soul being devoted to the work.

Surviving Mr. Gardner are his widow, Mrs. Sarah E. Gardner; four daughters, Mrs. A.F. Ayala, Tampa; Mrs. Waldo Perez, Jacksonville; Mrs. Lester Abramson, New York; Misses Marjorie and Bessie Gardner in Key West; one son George Gardner of this city; four brothers, Jimmie Gardner, Key West; George F. Gardner, Gainesville; Chas. H. Gardner, Cedar Keys; Asa Gardner, Tampa; two sisters, Mrs. John McCain, Tampa; Mrs. Sable Hudson, Boston; and numerous other relatives in this city and elsewhere.

Every member of the immediate family of Mr. Gardner was at hid bedside when he passed away, as were his four brothers.

The funeral service was held at 4 o'clock this afternoon from the residence to Fleming street Methodist church. The pastor, Rev. T. I. Adams, was assisted in pronouncing the full funeral rites of the Methodist denomination by Rev. L. Munro and Rev. E. L. Ley, pastors of the First Methodist and Ley Memorial churches, respectively. Members of the police force who were off duty attended the obsequies in a body and acted as pall bearers, and members of the Ku Klux Klan, of which the deceased was a member, participated in the service at the grave.

The funeral was largely attended for every one in every walk of life was a friend to Whitmore Gardner and he was a friend to them. The floral offerings were many in number and beautiful indeed.

Interment was made in the family plot of the city cemetery, the entire funeral arrangement being under the management of G. Frank Sawyer of the Lopez undertaking parlor.