Alene Gardner

Alene May Gardner, 91, Iola, went to be with the Lord Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012, at Iola Nursing Center. Her husband, Robert L. Gardner, and nephews Richard M. Eldridge Sr. and Richard M. Eldridge Jr., preceded her in death.

Alene was born Oct. 24, 1920, in Iola, the only child of Carl and Bessie (Jackman) McFann. She grew up in Iola where she graduated from high school in 1938. She graduated from Iola Junior College in 1940 and then attended Pittsburg State Teacher’s College. She taught at Lincoln Elementary until she married the love of her life, Robert Gardner, on Oct. 11, 1942, in Palmyra, Mo.

They made their home in Iola after he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. She worked for Ableson Cleaners in the front office as a button maker and in the office of J.C. Penney before working at Bunt Warren Agency. She became a broker and agent before retiring from the agency. Mr. Gardner preceded her in death on May 7, 1997.

Alene was an active member of Trinity United Methodist Church, where she served as the lay member to Annual Conference and was UMW Conference chairperson. She was lay leader and belonged to United Methodist Women and served as past president and member of the Iola Jaycee Jaynes. She also was past president of the Iola BPW.

Survivors include her nephew and nieces, Larry Mark and his wife, Anna, Tulsa,  and their children, Larry and his wife, Sheley, and Sueann; Linda Cotner and her husband, Richard, Broken Arrow, Okla., and their children Mark and his wife, Tami, Mike and Kevin and his wife, Crystal; Nellene Eldridge, wife of the late Richard Mark Eldridge Sr., Tulsa, and her children Richard Mark Jr., Chris and his wife, Amanda, Ryan and his wife, Ashley, and Michael; and dearest friend Sandy Zornes and her husband, Terry, Iola.

She also is survived by her great-nieces and great-nephews, Rick, Danielle, Taylor, Ashley, Austin, Connor, Elise, Marcus, Robert and Dakota, and many other beloved family members.

Funeral services were Thursday at Trinity United Methodist Church, Iola. She was laid to rest in Highland Cemetery, Iola.

Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Allen County Animal Rescue Facility and left with Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel, Iola.

Online condolences may be sent to www.iolafuneral.com.