Michael Allen Gardner: Territorial Governor for Northern California’s Single Action Shooting Society (SASS)

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Michael Allen Gardner (a.k.a. Cap) was born on October 8, 1955 at the hospital in Garberville, California to Allen and Virginia Gardner and passed away unexpectedly on September 20, 2020 at the age of 64.

Mike attended kindergarten and first grade at the Garberville School, the current location of SoHum Health and the future hospital. His father was killed in 1960, followed by the death of his two-year-old brother, Matthew, a few months later.

His mother later married Richard Eugene Smith, of Garberville, and Mike moved to Redwood City with his younger brother Mark. Another brother, Shon Smith, joined the family and they moved to Newark in the Bay Area where he lived with his family.

Mike continued to come back to Garberville each summer and on holidays to work for his grandparents, Bill and Elaine Nixon, who owned Nixon’s Market where the Cadillac Wok is now located.

He graduated from Newark Memorial High School in 1973 and joined the United States Navy Seabees in 1977 as a heavy equipment operator. After basic training in San Diego, he was stationed on Guam. His battalion was responsible for the construction of the B-52 runway on Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean, during the Gulf War. He was also instrumental in the building of the heliport at then President Ronald Reagan’s Rancho de Cielo Ranch in Santa Ynez, California, and served two deployments on Midway Island in the Pacific. He received an honorable discharge in 1983.

While stationed at Port Hueneme in Southern California, he met his wife, Susan. They were married on June 20, 1981, just 30 days before he left for his last nine-month deployment to Midway Island. Their daughter, Jessica, was born on September 11, 1983. The three of them lived in Ojai, California where Susan worked for a local newspaper and operated her horse showing and training business. Mike went to work in the oil fields in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. He also enjoyed his time working offshore on various drilling rigs.

In April 1984 he and his family moved home to be closer to his family who were here in Garberville and Petrolia. He went to work for Bob McKee at Whitethorn Construction along with his brother, Mark Gardner. He was eventually hired by Humboldt County Roads Department as a heavy equipment operator and truck driver until he went to work for Caltrans in Garberville, Leggett and on the bridge crew in Eureka. He retired as the leadworker in Leggett.

After leaving Caltrans he worked for Just Rent It and a short time for Randall’s Sand & Gravel. It wasn’t long after that he went to work for Leonardo Logging in Fortuna and finally Humboldt Redwoods Company in Scotia driving logging truck, where he worked until his death. He truly enjoyed those last few years in the woods and said, he wished he had done it years before. He made some amazing friends and felt like that was what he was meant to do.

Mike was also a member of the Redwood Empire Masonic Lodge in Garberville and was Master for many years. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite.

One of his biggest passions was getting involved with the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) as a cowboy action shooter. He was a life member and the territorial governor for northern California for many years. All members of SASS choose an alias and this is where he became known as Cap Roundtree. He and a few other shooters formed the Mad River Rangers and held practices and main matches at the Blue Lake shooting range for many years. He and his wife and daughter also traveled to many shoots where they camped with friends. It was the best years of his life and he enjoyed every minute spending time shooting, playing guitar around the campfire and spending time with friends and family. The outpouring of love and support by his cowboy friends has been amazing after his passing.

Mike’s mother and stepfather moved in with him and his wife and lived with them for around five years. This restricted his traveling and shooting, but he managed to go as often as possible and would not have traded this extra time he had with his mother and stepfather for anything.

His dream was to retire in Montana. He and his wife sold their Garberville home of 30 years and purchased a home in the Bitteroot Valley south of Missoula, and were scheduled to begin their next adventure on October 8. Unfortunately, he never realized his dream.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, Allen Gardner; brothers Matthew, Mark and Shon; stepfather Richard Smith, and his mother, Virginia Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Susan; daughter, Jessica Gardner-Marino (Matt); grandson, Allen Marino; nieces Holly and Heather Gardner and their families; niece Sharon Hiatt and family; brother and sister-in-law Dale and Ellen Stiver; and many cousins and other Humboldt County family members.

A private, outdoor memorial service will be held on Friday, December 18 at Ocean View Cemetery in Eureka at 2 p.m. If you plan on attending, please wear a mask and maintain social distancing. We want everyone to be safe.

Mike’s family would like to thank everyone who has been so supportive during this very difficult time. In lieu of flowers, etc., please donate to your favorite charity or to the Assembly of God Church in Garberville.