March 21, 1918 - November 17, 2016
Mary Elizabeth Harvey Gardner Obituary (Age 98) Mary Elizabeth Harvey Gardner was born at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane on March 21, 1918 and passed away of natural causes at Hospice House South in Spokane on November 17, 2016. Mary was the oldest of three children born to Louis R Harvey and Maude Jameson Harvey. She grew up on the South Hill where she attended Wilson Elementary School and graduated from Lewis & Clark High School in 1936. She attended the University Of Idaho graduating with her Bachelors of Science in education. While at Idaho she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and Mortar Board. She enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and served in the WAVES until her discharge in 1946. She married John R Gardner on October 28, 1944 in Seattle, WA. After the war they moved to Chicago, IL and started their family. During their stay in Chicago, Marys two sons, Phil and Dick, were born. Johns job brought them back to Spokane, but eventually led them to Memphis, TN. She earned her Masters of Arts from Memphis State University. Her teaching career began while living in Memphis and continued when the family moved back to Spokane, WA. The family settled in the Spokane Valley and Mary began teaching at Pasadena Park Elementary in the West Valley School District. With both Mary and John being teachers the summers were spent tending to their extensive garden and relaxing at their Newman Lake cabin. She spent the next 18 years teaching first grade and retired from teaching in 1980. Mary enjoyed travel and made trips to Europe, Australia, Japan, as well as visiting every state capital in the U.S. During retirement quilting emerged as her passion. In addition to making countless quilts for family, friends and local charities Mary served as President of the Washington State Quilters Spokane Chapter. The friendships she made with her fellow quilters provided great support and diversion in the later years of her life. Nothing was able to surpass her love of collecting fabric, but her love of cats came in a close second. Her faithful companion Siam provided constant comfort and companionship from the day he limped into her life. Marys unique sense of humor remained with her to the end and will be missed by all who experienced it firsthand. Preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, John Gardner and brother Robert (Bob) Harvey. Mary is survived by her brother John (Jack) Harvey, two sons Phillip Gardner (Pam) and Richard Gardner (Karen); 5 grandchildren Rick Gardner (Kelli), Heather Gardner (Toni), Jenny Riley (Brendan), Carrie Tabone (Chris), and Mary Gardner (Karma); 6 great grandchildren Sidney and Kate Gardner, Avery and Finn Riley, and Ella and Kayla Tabone. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Habitat For Humanity. A memorial service to celebrate Marys life will be held Saturday, December 10 at Heritage Funeral Home at 1:00 pm. � To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Mary, please visit our Tree Store. Read more Events NOV 17
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