Obituary of Dorothy Gardner

Dorothy Mae Gardner, 87, of Boise died of natural causes Thursday morning. Services will be held Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 1:30 PM at Summers Funeral Homes, Ustick Chapel. Internment will follow at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery. The family will receive visitors beginning at 4:00PM at the home of Dorothy's eldest daughter, Kay Cooper and her husband Bob, 5440 N. Armstrong, Boise. Born September 7, 1924 to Samuel L. Dean and Martha A. Hite in Farmer, Washington, Dorothy was raised in Quincy, Washington. Dorothy is survived by her children, Kay Cooper (Bob) of Boise, Wanda Kay (Dan Duncan) of Austin, Texas, Leon Gardner (Colleen) of Meridian, and Deana Rader (Tiffany Duane) Tacoma, Washington, 9 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren. Dorothy was preceded in death by her loving husband of 63 years, Eugene Gardner. Dorothy graduated from Quincy High School where she was crowned Princess Quincy in 1942. She continued her education and received her Associates Degree. Dorothy and Gene married in Yakima, Washington in 1944. They moved to Idaho in 1952 and raised their family in Boise. Dorothy retired from US Bank (formerly Idaho First National Bank) where she worked for more than 40 years starting as a switchboard operator and retiring as an administrator. Upon her retirement she and Gene lived their dream at their mountain estate at Clear Creek near Cascade. Dorothy and Gene traveled extensively in their RVs across the Western U.S. visiting family and friends in Arizona, Washington, Oregon and California. They moved back to Boise in 2005. Dorothy was an avid bridge player and creator of beautifully crocheted items and spent many hours lovingly creating afghans and gifts for her friends and family. The family wishes to thank the wonderful and caring angels at Harrison's Hope Hospice of Meridian for their loving care of Dorothy during her final days. Special thanks go to Steve Grant, Megan Pollock, Sharon Taylor, Maria Padilla, Vickie Kathy, Chaplain Jaci Turner, Karen Dale, Merrill Hayden and Dr. Chu. Memorial Contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church or Bette Newborn at Newborn's Personal Care in Boise.