Gardner brings compassion to dual roles serving Pettis County

Published 2:48 pm Tuesday, October 20, 2026

For Matthew Gardner, serving others has been a lifelong commitment, beginning when he was still a student at Sacred Heart School and continuing through 26 years with the Pettis County Fire Protection District.

Gardner, a captain with the district, began his firefighting career during his senior year of high school. In the spring of 2000, shortly before graduating from Sacred Heart, he completed recruit training and began serving as a volunteer firefighter.

This year marked 26 years with the district, where Gardner supervises personnel on his shift.

“I’m considered a company officer,” he said, “I’m directly below the battalion chief, so it’ my duty to see that duties assigned to our shift are carried out and I take command of incident scenes in the absence of a chief officer.”

Gardner primarily works out of the district’s Radio Hill station, although he sometimes operates from other stations throughout the county.

Looking back on more than two decades in emergency services, Gardner said the work has been rewarding, even as it has exposed him to difficult situations.

“Just the way I was brought up, the way I was raised, I’ve always been one to kind of put others ahead of myself,” Gardner said. “Want to serve and help my community.”

That desire to help others has extended beyond firefighting. Gardner also spent 20 years working as a funeral director in Sedalia, an experience that gave him another perspective on helping families through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

The two professions sometimes intersect in heartbreaking ways. Gardner recalled responding to incidents, including motor vehicle accidents, only to later serve the same families in his role as a funeral director.

“I’ve kind of been on both sides,” Gardner said. “And I find that that’s really important with what we do.”

Gardner credits much of his approach to service to his grandparents, Robert and Shirley Roe, who raised him and instilled in him the importance of helping others and contributing to the community.

He also expressed gratitude to the teachers, former pastors and other mentors who influenced him throughout his life.

One person he singled out was funeral home owner Mary McLaughlin, who took him under her wing when he was young, gave him a job and helped teach him the value of community involvement.

“She just taught me that sense of community, that service, being of help to others is very rewarding and very important,” Gardner said.

Within the fire district, Gardner credits Chief Mike Harding and Battalion Chief Bill Twenter with helping him develop professionally. Harding, in particular, has played a significant role in Gardner’s career. Harding was a captain when Gardner first joined the department, and the two have worked closely together over the years.

Gardner’s commitment to the community also comes with sacrifices at home. Emergency calls and shift responsibilities can mean missing birthdays, parties and holidays, but he said his family has continued to support him throughout his career.

He offered special thanks to his wife, Michelle, and their two children.

“They’ve been behind me every step of the way, and it hasn’t always been easy,” Gardner said. “A lot of missed birthdays and parties and holidays and things like that.”

Despite those challenges, Gardner said his family’s support has been essential to his success.

“I couldn’t have done it without their help,” he said.

After 26 years with the district, Gardner continues to serve the community that has been his home since childhood. For him, the work is an extension of the values his grandparents taught him and the lessons he learned from those who helped guide his life.

Whether responding to an emergency or helping a grieving family, Gardner said compassion and service remain central to the work he does.

Chris Howell can be reached at 660-530-0146