Roper Funeral Home and Crematory 206 Holly St Jasper, GA 30143 (706) 253-7500 (706) 253-0040 www.roperfuneralhome.com James R. Garner, Jr. (Jim), age 95, of Jasper, Georgia, passed away on March 8, 2026 at The Retreat at Jasper. Jim was born on September 29, 1930 in Dothan, Alabama to the late Reginald Garner and Noby Norris. Jim and the love of his life, Jane, married for 62 years were both raised in Dothan, attending grade and high school as sweethearts. After high school, class of 1950, along came the Korean War and he along with many of his friends enlisted in the United States Air Force. Jim served four years as a Fighter Intercept Controller at Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquergue, New Mexico - primary mission, protection of Los Alamos, Atomic Energy Facility. After military, Jim enrolled at Auburn University and received a degree in Industrial Engineering. After college, Jim was employed at Clark Controller in Cleveland, Ohio, Industrial Nucleonics in Columbus, Ohio, all sales and engineering assignments. He also was employed at Lockheed Aircraft in Marietta, Georgia, as a flight test engineer on the C-130 program. His final employment being the General Electrics Company for thirty years in various assignments as Sales Engineer and final assignment, Area Sales Manager. Jim and wife, Jane, lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Auburn, Alabama; Cleveland, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; New York, New York; Phoenix, Arizona; Marietta, Georgia; and finally, Jasper, Georgia. In 1984, his wife, Jane, and son, Kirk, established Garner Ace Hardware in Jasper, Georgia. Jim was a member of Jasper Optimist Club, Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Auxiliary, Arrowhead Country Club, Pickens Sheriffs Auxiliary, Deacon in the First Baptist Church of Jasper, and a Bailiff in the Pickens County Court System. Jim is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Kirk and Laura Garner of Jasper; granddaughters, Lindsey and Matt Bailey of Jasper, Kristen and Tyler Childers of Ball Ground, Addie Garner of Jasper, Rosemary and Andrew Bayliss of Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania, Michelle Hamilton of Flattwoods, Kentucky, Amy and Billy Henderson of Zanesville, Ohio; grandson, Josh and Becca Spence of Hilliard, Ohio; son-in-law, Bill Spence of Groveport, Ohio; sister and brother-in-law, Jan and Barry Perez of Thomasville; sister-in-law, Diane Almand of Dallas, Texas; special friend, Rhoda Neighbors of Jasper; sixteen great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Reginald Garner and Noby Almand; his wife, Jane King Garner; daughter, Debbie Spence; and brother, Zack Almand A Memorial Service will be held 11:00 a,m,, Saturday, March 14, 2026 at the First Baptist Church of Jasper with Reverend Preston Jones and Mark Mitton officiating. Interment will be at Georgia National in Canton. The family will be receiving friends at Roper Funeral Home, Friday, March 13, 2026 from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to First Baptist Church of Jasper at 198 East Church Street; Jasper, Georgia 30143. Funeral Arrangements are entrusted to Roper Funeral Home and Crematory.