Mrs. Mary K Gardner

Mary K. Gardner, 86, longtime Ochelata resident, died Tuesday evening in Dewey. Mary was born on April 8, 1927, in Bartlesville, OK, the daughter of Alfred “Red” and Daisy Claire (Jones) Nelson. She was raised and educated in Ramona. After her schooling and during the war Mary worked at Golden Rule Bakery in downtown Bartlesville. Mary was married to Denzle Rhett in 1944 and resided in Copan for a short time. Mary was united in marriage with Johnny Gardner on January 25, 1948. In 1951 the family moved to California and there she worked as a seamstress sewing baby clothes before returning to Ochelata in 1958. Mary worked at the Burlingame Hotel and Zales Jewelry before starting her career with Cities Services in 1963 in the duplication printing department. Both Johnny and Mary retired from Cities Services on the same day in 1981. After 65 years of marriage Johnny preceded her in death on June 14, 2013. Mary was an accomplished crocheter and often made scarves and other items for her family and friends. She loved to work in her garden growing flowers and vegetables. She and Johnny travelled extensively through the U.S. west of the Mississippi and enjoyed attending family reunions in Iowa, Colorado and New Mexico. She loved her grandchildren and often included them on trips which usually centered around Johnny’s love for trains. She will be dearly missed. Mary is survived by two sons Denny Rhett and his wife Delma of Ramona, and Johnny Gardner Jr. and his wife Jan of Bartlesville; three grandchildren, Carla Gardner of Tulsa, Dustin Gardner of Bartlesville, and Shelly Czaja of Bartlesville; eight great grandchildren; one sister Ruth Coker of Cedar Hill, TX; one step-sister Melba Lee Atkins and Lee of Bartlesville; and one brother Carl Ray Nelson of Whippoorwill Point. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents and two brothers. The family will receive friends at the Davis Family Funeral Home, (918-534-3030), 113 S. Osage (Hwy. 75), Dewey, on Friday, November 8, from 6-8 p.m. Viewing is on Thursday 4-8 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com . Funeral services for Mrs. Gardner will be held Saturday, November 9, 2013, at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of the Davis Family Funeral Home. Chaplain Roger Sheppard will officiate. Interment will follow in the Ochelata Cemetery. Pallbearers include, Brian Gardner, Dustin Gardner, Rick Greenfield, Brian Czaja, Steve Gardner and Leroy Gardner. Arrangements are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home.

Mrs. Mary K Gardner

April 8, 1927 - November 5, 2013