James Henry Gardner, age 88 of Horse Cave, Ky, passed away Monday, April 6, 2026 at Signature Health Care of Hart County, with his loving wife at his side. He was a member of Horse Cave Baptist Church. He enjoyed fishing and hunting arrowheads.

He was the son of the late Henry Paul Gardner and the late Whitman Rucker Gardner.

He is preceded in death by his brother, Thomas Gardner; his sisters, Betty Jean Estes and Pauline Hoover; nephew, Johnny Estes.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary Hazel Gardner; one daughter, Paula Rogers (Jesse) of Ledbetter, KY; one granddaughter, Jennifer Smith (Ben) of Louisville, KY; a great-granddaughter, Taylor Smith of Louisville, KY; a niece, Rose Ann Denton (Jimmy) of McEwen, TN; four nephews, Paul Curtis Estes of Elizabethtown, KY, Bobby Estes of Munfordville, KY, David Estes of Munfordville, KY, and Frank Hoover of Glasgow, KY.  

Honoring James' wishes, cremation has been chosen and services will be announced later by Brooks Funeral Home, Munfordville, KY.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.brooksfuneralhomeky.com