Alene Gardner

Alene May Gardner, 91, Iola, went to be with the Lord Sunday, September 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 was also the past president of the Iola Business and Professional Women. Survivors include her nephew and nieces, Larry Mark and his wife, Anne, Tulsa, OK and their children, Larry and his wife, Sheley, and Sueann; Linda Cotner and her husband, Richard, Broken Arrow, OK, 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 their 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, Tayler, Ashley, Austin, Connor, Elise, Marcus, Robert and Dakota, among many other beloved family members. FUNERAL SERVICE: 1:00 p.m., Thursday, September 6, 2012, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Iola, where visitation will follow the service. BURIAL: Highland Cemetery, Iola, Kansas MEMORIAL CHOICES: Trinity United Methodist Church,St. Jude's Children's Hospital or Allen County Animal Rescue Facility (ACARF) Memorial gifts may be left with the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences for the family may be left at this website, www.iolafuneral.com .