Frances Heloise Gardner

Frances Gardner, 97 of Bartlesville, died, Sunday in Dewey. Frances Heloise Gardner was born May 21, 1918, near Burbank, OK, to Daniel Fulton and Mary Catherine (Jacques) Hammon. She was raised in Burbank and graduated from Burbank High School in 1935 before moving to Ponca City where she worked for the famous Poncan Theatre. She met and married the love of her life Joseph Wilson Gardner on May 20, 1945, shortly after the end of WWII. They lived in Ponca City for a short time before moving to Kansas City where they managed a polo farm for a few years. They moved back to Oklahoma, to Osage County. Joe worked for Montgomery Ward and Frances began her career spanning 25 years. She was a tape librarian for Cities Service and went with them to Tulsa. The couple loved their Osage ranch where they had cows and horses and loved the many different animals they kept on the farm. They loved to travel westward, to Arizona and Yellowstone. Frances was an avid gardener with a green thumb. In addition to charity work and membership in the First Christian Church of Bartlesville and the Eastern Star order, Frances was active in the Garden Club, Washington County’ Cattle Women, Osage County Cattle Women (Cow Bells), OHCE Pen and Tuck, Sandcreek clubs, 4-H Farm Bureau, Jubilee Quilters, as well as a volunteer at the Salvation Army and Bartlesville Community Center. Frances participated in various area competitions, even reaching the national level; her oriental beef steak strips was a star at the 1979 OK Beef Cook-off. She was instrumental in starting many well-known local projects including Boo Boo Bears, Christmas stockings for December’s new born babies and Tooth Ferry Pillows. Frances and Joe did not raise children of their own, but doted on their two nephews and extended family. Frances loved people and her community throughout her life. She was named Bartlesville Citizen of the Year 2001, and in 2014, she served as the grand marshal at the Dewey Christmas Parade. Comfortable in her own skin and often at the center of attention, Frances acted in two movies shot in the area: the locally produced “Pruning the Family Tree” and “To the Wonder,” the Ben Afleck art film where she had one of the few speaking parts. Joe preceded Frances in death in 1985, after forty years of marriage. Frances is survived by her beloved nephews, Maynard Tanner and Lakita, and Rodger Tanner and Patty, all of Bartlesville; one great nephew Christopher Tanner and Renee of Bartlesville; four grand nieces, Stephanie Tanner of Shidler, and Crystal Huey and Derrick, Andrea Granger, and Breanna Haller and Faron, all of Bartlesville; as well as 13 great great nephews and niece; and one great great great nephew. In addition to Joe, Frances was preceded in death by her parents, one brother Daniel Arthur “Bud” Hammon, and one sister Vivian F. Tanner. Visitation will be Sat., Dec. 12, 9-5 p.m. and Sun., Dec. 13, 12-5 p.m. At the Davis Family Funeral Home, 918-534-3030, 113 S. Osage (Hwy. 75), Dewey. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Washington County SPCA or the Bartlesville Salvation Army. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 14 at the First Christian Church of Bartlesville. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. in the Grandview Cemetery of Kaw City, OK. Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared with Frances’ family at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.

Frances Heloise Gardner

May 21, 1918 - December 6, 2015