HAINES CITY - Doyle Gardner, 73, of Haines City, FL, died December 14, 2008 at his residence due to heart failure.

He was born March 19, 1935 in Pavo, GA to Russell and Lena Branch Gardner and moved from there to Winter Haven, FL in 1957. Doyle was an Allstate agent retiring after 35 years and he returned to work for the last 6 years to work with his son Ed. He is a member of Dundee United Methodist Church. Doyle liked to Hunt and had a love for horses, he trained and showed horses most of his life, first with Arabians and lately with Paso Finos.

He is predeceased by his parents and survived by his wife Mary Gardner; children, Rus Gardner of Tallahassee, FL, Ed Gardner of Lutz, FL, Pam Schminky of Pavo, GA; sisters, Virginia Russell of Moultrie, GA, Theresa Schmidt of Live Oak, FL; and 10 grandchildren.

Services will be held in Moultrie, GA at Cobb Funeral Chapel. Oak Ridge Funeral Care, Haines City in charge of local arrangements. Condolences may be sent via www.oakridgefuneralcare.com