Funeral for Lewis Gardner Jr. was held on Monday, Dec. 28, to honor his passing.

On Dec. 22, Lewis Gardner Jr., founder of the Crackerbox Food Stores c-store chain passed away, at the age of 71.

According to a report from Arkansas Business, Gardner passed away at National Park Medical Center in Hot Springs, Ark. Gardner was born in Georgia, and later lived in Monticello and Hot Springs, Ark. Gardner founded Crackerbox Food Stores in 1976, with his son Lewis Ray, after agreeing to build a store in Wilmar, Ark. for a friend who later backed out of running it.

When Gardner and his son made a deal to sell the chain to Valero Retail Holdings in 2012, Crackerbox had become a chain of 32 c-stores, and employed 285 people. The company was placed on Arkansas Business’ list of the states largest private companies in 2011, when the company’s gross revenue reached $246 million.

Screaming Eagle Transport, which was not sold with the store chain, was also founded by Gardner.

The funeral for Lewis Gardner Jr. was held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 28 at the Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home in Monticello, Ark.