- State: Illinois
Mary Kathleen Gardner, 87, died October 1, 2009, at her home in Ashland.
She was born March 14, 1922, in Springfield, the daughter of Stuart J. and Margaret V. Devlin Reid. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jack; a daughter, Mary Jonelle; two sisters and a brother.
Mary K. graduated from Springfield College in Illinois and Illinois State University. She also attended Lincoln School of Law. Prior to her marriage in 1945, she taught at Crowâ??s Point and Oakdale schools. She retired from teaching in
1990 at Ashland School after 25 years of teaching elementary grades.
Mary K. served from 1976 to 1984 as superintendent of the Illinois State Fair Floriculture Show and from 1984 to 1998 as Hobby, Arts and Crafts Show superintendent.
She was a member of the St. Augustine Church and Altar and Rosary Society, the Ashland Women’s Club, the Cass County Retired Teachers Association, and a local teachersâ?? sorority.
She volunteered at Ashland Grade School kindergarten and served as a catechism teacher at St. Augustine Catholic Church.
She was the recipient of an Illinois Education Association Award in 1998 and named Ashland First Citizen in 2000.
She is survived by two daughters and four sons, Roni (Bill) Wallner of Springfield; Kathy A. (Gary) Leming of Ashland; John L. J(Joann) of Yorktown,VA; Stuart (Pam) of Ashland; James R. (Lynn Maynock) of Tillamook, OR; Mark S. (Lori) of Albuquerque, NM; 12 grandchildren, Jonelle (Mark) Brent and Julie (Cliff) McIntosh both of Springfield; Kathy (Gavin) Green of Charleston, SC; Amy (Todd) Parlier, Virginia; John (Jachala) Gardner, Ashland; Joseph Gardner, Junction City, OR; Jacob Gardner, Springfield; Anna Gardner, Norfolk, VA; Matthew Gardner, Minot, ND; Christopher Gardner and Kimberly (Nick) Payne, both of Albuquerque, NM; Amanda Gardner, Phoenix, AZ; 3 step-grandsons, Mark, Don and Brad Wallner; one step-granddaughter, Julie Ambrose of Shelbyville; 11 great grandchildren; a sister, Sue Doolin of Ashland; many nieces and nephews; and several cousins.
angements.
