We Remember Those We Have Lost

Douglas T. Gardiner, Jr.

OCEAN CITY — Douglas Tracy Gardiner, age 71, died on April 30, 2011 at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Born in Washington DC, he was the son of the late D. Tracy Gardiner, Sr. and Lelia Bond Gardiner.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Rosencrance Gardiner, and three sons, Douglas T. Gardiner III and his wife Christine of Drayden, Md., Joseph Elwood Gardiner and wife Susan of Corinth, Texas, and James Matthew Gardiner and his wife Cynthia of Salisbury.

He also is survived by his sister, Lelia Eleanor LaPerriere and her husband Joseph, of Houston, Texas. He was adored grandfather of Sarah Kaytlin, Allison Marie, Meagan Lyn, Mallory Logan, Shelby Nicole, Tyler James, and Brooke Elizabeth. He leaves numerous nieces and nephews.

After graduating from Great Mills High School in Lexington Park, he served two years in the United States Air Force. Later, he owned and operated Dennis Point Marina for 38 years in Drayden, Md. He retired to Ocean City in 2006.

Mr. Gardiner loved planes, fast cars and fishing boats. He earned his captain’s license, which he kept for 50 years, and operated his own charter boat in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Hatteras, N.C., the Bahamas and Ocean City. He was a member of Ocean City Cruisers, Chaplain of St. Mary’s County Elks Lodge, Piney Point Lions Club, Holy Savior/St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church and the Ocean City Marlin Club.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 11 a.m. at Holy Savior Catholic Church, A reception will follow at the Ocean City Marlin Club on Golf Course Rd. in West Ocean City.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in his memory may be made to Holy Savior Catholic Church, 1705 Philadelphia Ave, Ocean City, Md. 21842, St. George’s Catholic Church, St George’s Church Rd, Valley, Md. 20692, or Second District Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 1, Valley, Md. 20692.

Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.

Helen M. Shamer

OCEAN CITY — Helen M. Shamer, age 74, of Ocean Pines, died Saturday, April 30, 2011 at Coastal Hospice at the Lake in Salisbury.  She was born in Baltimore and was the daughter of the late Harry Sr. and Marie (Corron) Wilgar.

She is survived by her husband, Ken Shamer of Ocean Pines; a daughter, Holly Marie Farnella and her husband Anthony of Glenwood, Md.;  a brother, Harry Wilgar of Catonsville, Md.; two grandsons, Anthony Farnella Jr. and Dylan Farnella; and three nieces.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Howard County.
Donations may be sent to Worcester County Humane Society, P.O. Box 48, Berlin, Md. 21811.

Arrangements by Hastings Funeral Home, Selbyville, Del.

Laura Louise Thaxton

BERLIN — Laura Louise Thaxton, 65, died on May 3, 2011 at Atlantic General Hospital.  She was born in Dayton, Ohio to the late Samuel Seifer and Opal Campbell Seifer.  

She is survived by her son, Rich Thaxton and his wife Juli; son, Dustin Thaxton; step-son, Jim Brown and his wife Marie; step-son, Scott Mooreland and his wife Joyce; and six grandchildren.

Services will be private.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 3810.

Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.

Park “Slim” Arthur Snyder, Sr.

BERLIN — Park “Slim” Arthur Snyder, Sr., 87, of Emmitsburg, Md., formerly Ocean Pines, passed away peacefully on May 1, 2011 at the home of his son and daughter-in-law, Ralph and Sandra Snyder.

Born in Gypsum, Kansas on May 9, 1923, he was the son of the late Joseph and Laura Snyder.

Park was a World War II veteran, during that period of time he met and married his beloved wife of 64 years, Madeline (Morse) Snyder, who passed away April 4, 2010. Park retired from Armco Steel, Baltimore, as a Master Electrician. Their love for the ocean led them to retiring in Ocean Pines.

Park was a recent parishioner of St. Anthony Shrine Parish, Emmitsburg, Md. He spent many happy years as a parishioner of St. John Newmann, Ocean Pines, where he was received into the Catholic faith.

Park was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by his five children, Susan Libertini and her husband, Jim, of Parkton, Md., Park A. Snyder, Jr. of Joppa, Md., Nancy Shafer of Columbia, Md., Barbara Schaffner and her husband, Bob, of Lutherville, Md., and Ralph Snyder and his wife, Sandra, of Emmitsburg, Md.; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren, along with many relatives and friends.

Park donated his body to science. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 24 at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony Shrine, Emmitsburg, Md. with Father Gerald Hines, C.P. as Celebrant. A reception will follow the service at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Center, Thurmont, Md.

Donations in Park’s memory can be sent to St. Anthony Shrine, Emmitsburg, Md. or Hospice of Carroll County.