Roxie Gardner

Roxie Gardner passed away Sunday, September 1, 2024 in Tyler, Texas. She was born June 29, 1952 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, to AnnaMary Bohn Gardner.

Roxie, as the first female Tyler Police Department Animal Control Officer, spent a 35 year career protecting the health of the public and the well being of animals, domestic and wild. In 1982, the Tyler Police Department transferred Animal Control to the Tyler Smith County Health Department, a department of the City of Tyler. The program started with two officers one truck and a pagers to dispatch calls. The focus was on public health and safety. Rabies control and animal control must work as one.

She is a past state president of the Texas Animal Control Association. The non-profit organization is dedicated to the advancement of animal control and animal welfare personnel. Membership in TACA shows the highest degree of commitment to the control controland animal welfare field.

About a hundred calls a day come in at all hours of the day. It required response to catch dogs running astray cats causing nuisances, wildlife such as raccoons, skunks and feral animals jeopardizing the public. Other calls reported animal bites/attacks that had to be investigated, and control measures taken for rabies control.

It takes an individual with a good heart, empathy, discipline, physical skills, great communication skills, attention to detail, and knowing how to get compliance through education but able to implement code enforcement when necessary.

She and her fellow officers responded to stray dogs, dog fights, puppy mills, animal cruelty calls, feral cats, nuisance animals such as raccoons, wild hogs, cows running astray, emus in the traffic, snakes and were sprayed by skunks more than once. They rescued a dachshund stuck in a fence trying to get through the bars. The owner covered him with oil trying to get him unstuck. They responded along with Tyler Fire Department and he was freed. Animal control advised her next time use dish soap, much easier to clean, everyone was happy.

Once while enforcing the "Dangerous Dog Declaration" she and another officer were physically attacked by the dog's owner. As always Tyler Police Department responded when needed, captured and arrested the two assailants. It is a job in the eye of the public. A serious program to keep our city safe from rabies and safe of animals interacting dangerously with the public

Over the years Roxie trained animal control officers. In the early 90's the now four officers were crossed trained to do mosquito control activities to prevent mosquito borne diseases.

As the programs grew the need for a clerical administrator was necessary to manage the multiple facets of the programs. Coordinate, dispatch and document their activities and develop reports for the programs. Verifying the officers earned and kept their certifications for animal/vector control.

Roxie is survived by her Beloved pup Christine (Chrissy); sister, Wendy Bowman of Kentucky ; niece, Jennifer (Brett) Jordan; great nieces, Anna and Violet Jordan; great nephews, Bowman and Alexander Jordan all of Georgia; nephew, Adam (Corvo) Bowman of Kentucky; brother, Dean (Kristen) Rank of North Carolina; great niece, Marisa (Chandler) Casner; great nephew, Matthew Rank; cousins, Bruce (Cindy) Rank of Ohio, Craig (Karin) Rank of Pennsylvania and Chris (Christa) Lennon and their daughters Alyssa & Elodie. Also survived by Julia Hassell and Bill Stiles; Jesie and Trace Walker and their three boys; Gage, Jackson, and Isaiah Walker, all of Tyler, Texas.

Visitation time with family 12:00 PM, Saturday, September, 7, 2024, Pollard United Methodist Church, 3030 New Copeland Road, Tyler, Texas 75701.

Memorial Service 1:00 PM, Saturday, September 7, 2024 at Pollard United Methodist Church, 3030 New Copeland Road, Tyler, Texas 75701 with Rev. Richard Luna officiating. Please dress casually.

Donations toward memorial expenses can be made directly to Brosang Family Funeral and Cremation Services at https://secure.goemerchant.com/secure/custompayment/brosangfamilyfuneralhome/16794/default.aspx or in person at 13437 Hwy 110, Tyler, Texas 75707.