Durell "Dude" Gartman, age 82, died Sunday, August 24, 2014 at Aurora Health and Rehabilitation in Columbus. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be Thursday, August 28, 2014 beginning at 12:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 PM in Memorial Chapel, with Rev. Jeff Morrison officiating. Burial will immediately follow in Ebernezer United Methodist Church Cemetery in Fernbank, AL. The son of the late David Monroe and Annie Barrow Gartman, Mr. Gartman was born May 6, 1932 in the Melbourne community in Lamar County, AL. He was a longtime member of Ebernezer United Methodist Church and a farmer. He was employed at Johnston-Tombigbee and James Floor Covering years ago. He retired from those businesses to take care of his aging parents and to farm. He was also predeceased by his brother James Gartman and his sister Annie Lewis Wilson McDonagh. He is survived by four nieces and one nephew and the Seay /Crowley Families, who were his caregivers in his last years, and his church family at Ebeenezer United Methodist Church. Pallbearers will be Dayle Kuhn, Scott Crowley, Austin Crowley, John Seay, Gary Seay, Joshua Seay, Chris Seay, Johnathan Seay and David Seay. Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny Ray Seay, Jr., Don Crowley, Robert Rector, Danny Rector, Wayne Baines, Richard Laws, Larry Fowler, David Davis, Mark Jordan, Dewitt Ray, members of Ebernezer United Methodist Church and Shiloh United Methodist Church, Staff of Aurora Health and Rebab, Dr. John Whitecar and staff and the Steens Superette Coffee Drinkers. Memorials may be made to the Ebernezer United Methodist Building Fund, c/o Cathy McNees, 5132 Mud Creek Road, Millport, AL 35576.
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