Dr. Conrad Rex Garner passed away on December 15, 2023.  He was the youngest son of Charles Clifton and Mettie Electa Jane (Slagle) Garner and was born on January 25, 1922.  He had two brothers and five sisters.

Conrad attended Harrison High School where he lettered in football and basketball and in 1999 became an initial inductee into the Harrison High School Goblins' Hall of Fame.  After graduation he volunteered for the Army Air Corps and served in the South Pacific during World War II.  Upon completion of his time in service, he attended the University of Central Arkansas (Arkansas State Teachers' College) on a football scholarship. He received his bachelor's degree from UCA and continued to pursue graduate educational goals by attending such colleges as George Peabody College, University of Southern California, University of California at Los Angeles and California Western University.  He was awarded both Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

Conrad's professional career included a wide range of educational positions in public and private schools and colleges.  He organized and administered educational programs for the U.S. Government and the private sector as well as spending fifteen years as a college administrator serving as Director, Vice-President and Dean for the University of Southern California, Georgia Military College, Chapman University and Allan Hancock College. He had a 10-year career as a high school administrator serving as President, Dean and Principal.

His twenty years of U.S. Government experience included Education Director for the Third Air Force.  This position encompassed all Air Force education programs in Great Britain and Education Officer and Director for various Air Force bases in the United States and overseas.

Conrad was President of Educational Training Resources, Incorporated and President and Owner of Western Education Consulting and Negotiating, Incorporated.  Both corporations dealt with educational programs, contracts and materials.  In 2004, Governor Mike Huckabee appointed him to the University of Central Arkansas Board of Trustees.

Conrad was a lifelong Presbyterian and served on the Session of First Presbyterian Church, Harrison Arkansas.

He is survived by his wife Lucille (Duhon) Garner, two sons: Conrad Rex Garner, Jr., and wife Diane, Kim Patrick Garner and wife Renee; five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Visitation will be Friday, December 22, 2023 at 1:30 pm with the funeral following at 2:30 pm at Coffman Funeral Home in Harrison. Interment will be in Maplewood Cemetery. The Rev. Dr. Richard Shinkle will be officiating. Honorary pallbearers are the "Old Time Goblins."

The family would like to express their thanks for the wonderful help and care given by Hillcrest Nursing Home and McClintock Family Medicine.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 3260, Harrison, Arkansas, 72602 or The University of Central Arkansas, Athletic Department, 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway, Arkansas 72035.