William Simon Garner, son of THOMAS JEFFERSON GARNER and FRANCES JANE JONES, was born in March 1862, in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Will attended school through the 8th grade in Arkansas. He married Malissie P. Hale, his first wife, on January 19, 1882 in Newton County, Arkansas. Malissie was born on January 4, 1862 in Newton County, Arkansas, the daughter of WILLIAM C. HALE, and NARCISSA BURNS. Will and Malissie had six children 1) William Thomas Garner, born March 21, 1893 in Hasty, Arkansas 2) Benjamin Franklin (Frank) Garner, born August 8, 1900 in Newton County, Arkansas, 3) Netey Frances Garner, born January 5, 1884 in Arkansas 4) Dotey Murtey (Myrtle) Garner, born October 22, 1887 in Newton County, Arkansas 5) Ida Leeroy Garner, born August 18, 1890, in Arkansas 6) Sarah Elizabeth (Betty) Garner, born April 12, 1896 in Arkansas. Malissie P. Hale Garner died on January 17, 1918 in Hasty, Arkansas and is buried in Hasty Cemetery.

Will married Dora Collins Lovelady Mayberry (born January 4, 1862) between 1920-1922 in Newton County, Arkansas. They had two children 1) Arley Joe Garner, born January 31, 1923 in Hasty, Arkansas and 2) Albert Garner, born January 26, 1925 in Hasty, Arkansas.

Will was a short, heavy built man in his youth, who was remembered as an outgoing, kind and good hearted man who would help anyone. He never learned how to drive an automobile, and relied on a team of horses for transportation. Will was the Postmaster of the Hasty, Arkansas Post Office prior to 1924, and in 1924 became the Postmaster of Carver, Arkansas. He also operated a general store that was attached to the post office. Will and Frank both worked there. During the Depression, Will took pity on his neighbors and friends and gave them food and other supplies on credit to help them survive. Because of the economic situation, his friends were unable to repay Will for his generosity, and he found himself bankrupt after the Depression. Will's primary income after the depression came from his farm in Hasty, Arkansas (where he owned a lot of land). At some point, Will and Dora moved to Waggoner, Oklahoma to live near his sisters who were in the grocery business. Will and Dora also owned a grocery store there. They didn't stay there long before they got homesick and returned to Hasty, Arkansas.

Will died at 86 years of age of pneumonia on January 26, 1949 and is buried in Hasty Cemetery in Hasty, Newton County, Arkansas. Dora died June 14, 1971.

(The information above was provided by Arley Joe Garner, and Lois Garner Gregory. William Simon was my GG Grandfather)

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