- Date Of Birth: June 6, 1926
- Date Of Death: September 29, 2016
- State: West Virginia
Dorothy Imogene (Jean) Gardner, 90, of Clarksburg passed away at her home on the afternoon of September 29, 2016 following an extended illness.
She was born June 6, 1926 in Mt. Clare, WV; the daughter of the late William Edward and Ethel Mae Price Donnellan.
Jean is survived by two sons, Gary Wayne and Richadeen Gardner of Clarksburg; Donald Mark Gardner of Lake Floyd community; two granddaughters, Amy Dawn and William Phillips, Kimberly Anne and Michael Caruso; three great grandchildren, Eric and Shelby Phillips, Lily Anne Caruso; four sisters, Emma Fleming, Jackie White, Lorraine Treisch, Sharon Agnew; numerous nieces and nephews.
Her husband, of 67 years, Donald Wayne Gardner preceded her in death on August 11, 2016. She is also preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Mike Donnellan; three sisters, Karen Corder, Patty Hurst and Betty Hustead.
Jean was a 1944 graduate from Lost Creek High School in Lost Creek, WV. After graduation, one of her first jobs was waitress at Traveler’s Lunch located in the Point Comfort neighborhood of Clarksburg. It was here that she met her future husband, Don. They dated and eventually were married at the Lost Creek Methodist Church in 1949.
Jean then worked at the A & P Store located in Clarksburg’s West End. However, Jean was primarily a homemaker while their two boys were in school. She returned to work at Ideal-Sayre photography studios in Clarksburg after the boys graduated high school and later worked for many years at Stone & Thomas Department Store in Clarksburg.
Jean took a break from working outside the home to watch her grandchildren, Amy and Kim. “Mam-maw Jean” provided them much love and care during their early years. Later, as they started their own families, Jean and husband Don enjoyed going for drives to visit their “kids” in Buckhannon and Morgantown.
The Gardner family was devout Methodist, first as members of St. Paul’s Methodist Church and then as members of the First United Methodist Church of Clarksburg, WV. Jean served as a unit leader in the United Methodist Women. For many years, she volunteered in organizing and preparing meals for the annual mission bazaar; to help raise funds for the Mustard Seed and Health Access; and a part of the church’s All in the Family program. She was still an active member there up until her passing.
Finally, and most importantly, Jean was committed to her family, both her immediate family through the years, and the Donnellan “Clan”, and in recent months delighting in telling stories about her parents, grandparent, and her many aunts and uncles and cousin.
Cemetery Details Seventh Day Baptist Church Cemetery Lost Creek
Lost Creek, WV, 26385
