Buck Gardner November 25, 1949 – November 7, 2025

Merle Floyd "Buck" Gardner, of Memphis, Tennessee, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, November 7, 2025, at the age of 76, surrounded by family and friends. His death came days after the passing of his beloved daughter, Elaine Gardner. Buck was born in Memphis on November 25, 1949, to Arch Gardner and Sadie Shaw Gardner. He grew up in the Whitehaven area, where he developed a lifelong passion for waterfowl hunting. He graduated from the University of Hard Knocks, as he proudly claimed, and built a remarkable career that transformed the duck calling industry. A legendary figure in competitive duck calling, Buck competed for over a decade before capturing the World Duck Calling Championship in Stuttgart, Arkansas in 1994. The following year, he won the Champion of Champions title, the highest honor in the sport, earning permanent retirement from world-level competition. His perseverance through 13 competitions before winning became a testament to his determination and character that defined his entire life. In 1996, Buck founded Buck Gardner Calls, LLC in Memphis with a mission to produce championship-quality duck calls at prices that everyday hunters could afford. His flagship duck call, the Double Nasty, became renowned across North America and remains one of the most recognized in the sport. Buck also introduced several meaningful innovations over the years that improved reliability, sound, and ease of use. Through his creativity, marketing instincts, and personal connection with hunters, he helped reshape how game calls were designed, packaged, and shared with the world, making the craft more accessible to all. Before establishing his own company, Buck and his late wife Marlene operated New South Sales, a representative firm that focused on housewares and electronics. Their work together reflected the deep, personal partnership they shared throughout their 49-year marriage. Buck was known throughout the hunting community not only for his products, but also for his integrity and generosity. He personally answered customer calls, hand-tuned many calls himself before shipping, and backed each product with a lifetime guarantee. He regularly visited children at Ronald McDonald House in Memphis, teaching duck calling to young cancer patients and giving them calls to keep. His instructional materials, including the "Straight Talk" video series and duck calling 101 cassette tape, taught thousands of hunters the art of calling waterfowl. In 2004, Buck was inducted into the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame. He remained active in conservation efforts throughout his life, creating partnership calls supporting Ducks Unlimited, Delta Waterfowl, and other wildlife organizations. In 2015, he sold Buck Gardner Calls, while continuing contributions to the company's product development. Adam Davis became owneroperator in 2022, carrying forward Buck's legacy of quality and affordability. Buck was preceded in death by his wife, Marlene Gardner (2021); his daughter, Margaret Gardner (October 20, 2025); his parents, Arch Gardner and Sadie Gardner. He is survived by his brother, Archie Gardner; his sons, Brad Gardner (Amy) of Mexico Beach, Florida, and Patrick Gardner (Anna) of Lakeland, Tennessee; his grandchildren, Sadie Gardner, Ben Gardner, and PJ Gardner; and a vast community of hunters, conservationists, and friends whose lives he touched through his generosity, teaching, and dedication to the outdoor traditions he loved. A funeral service celebrating Buck's life will be held at Central Church, 2005 E. Winchester Blvd. in Collierville, Tennessee. The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the friends and caregivers who surrounded Buck with love in his final days. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Ducks Unlimited, One Waterfowl Way, Memphis, TN 38120 (www.ducks.org), or to any animal shelter in honor of Buck and Elaine's shared love of God's creatures. Buck Gardner's legacy lives on in the marshes and timber where his calls still work ducks, in the hunters he mentored, in the innovations he pioneered, and in the principle he lived by: quality and fairness for every hunter, every time.