Mary Gardner Obituary

Mary Katherine Gardner January 29, 1921 - January 10, 2007. Mary was born January 29, 1921 in Caldwell, Kansas to James and Edith Wardell. Mary had four brothers and seven sisters. James died soon after the birth of his last child, so Edith and the older children had to overcome great challenges as a single-parent, baker's dozen family in the Great Depression. In 1942, Mary met Jay Gardner who worked at the same meat packing plant in Topeka. Jay soon enlisted in the US Navy, and entered flight school in Jacksonville, Florida. Upon graduation, Jay sent for Mary and they were wed in November 1943. In early 1944, Jay received orders for duty in World War II. As a dive bomber for the Marine Corps in the South Pacific, Jay completed 104 missions. His tour of duty ended and he returned to Mary just before the war ended. Mary was a loving mother to five children and is survived by three of them. Penelope Ann was born in 1948, John Adams in 1949, Mark in 1951, Melanie Ann in 1953 and Andrew James in 1954. Penelope and John died recently. Mark lives in Fountain Hills, Arizona, Melanie in Paradise Valley, Arizona, and Andrew in Morrison, Colorado. Mary was a loving wife to Jay for 63 years. He survives her and resides in Peoria, Arizona. Mary raised her five children in Colorado Springs, Colorado where Jay worked as General Manager of Pikes Peak Broadcasting (KRDO). All five children attended Pauline Memorial Grade School and Cheyenne Mountain High School from 1956 to 1972. The Gardner family lived in Colorado Springs for 23 years from 1956 to 1979. Jay and Mary moved to the Phoenix area in 1979 and have resided there until the present. Mary's respect for her husband was unwavering. Her love for her family was defining. A funeral is scheduled for January 27, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. at Pauline Chapel, 2 Park Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80906 with a brief interment ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery immediately afterwards. Mary's family would appreciate contributions in Mary's name to St. Paul's Catholic Parish, the place that served her family spiritually and educationally for a joyous and extended period of time.