Obituary for Harriet Gardner

Harriet Verlee Gardner, 96, died peacefully on her birthday, Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, with her entire family present at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City.

Verlee was born on Aug. 18, 1918, in Newkirk, the daughter of Samuel Jackson Carpenter and Fannie Lena Ackerman Carpenter. She graduated from Newkirk High School in 1936 and later received an associate’s degree from Tonkawa Junior College. She married John J. Gardner and they had three children.

In addition to raising three children, she was also an active member of the Ponca City Four O’clock Garden Club, PEO Chapter FC and First Christian Church of Newkirk. She also participated in various community Bible studies. She served as a Newkirk Ambassador and volunteered for Meals on Wheels.

Verlee was an avid supporter and fan of the Oklahoma State Cowboys and was the recipient of an Outstanding Alumnae Award in recognition of her efforts as a member of the OSU Posse Club.

She was a devoted wife and mother whose care for others extended far beyond her immediate family. She will be dearly missed by her neighbors of 60 years and her Coffee Club which met daily in her home since 1986. She will be remembered by many for her encouraging notes, faithful birthday cards, as well as her almost daily famous cookie and custard deliveries to anyone and everyone in need.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, John. She is survived by her sons, John J. Gardner II, of Ponca City and Samuel Neal Gardner, of Newkirk; daughter, Ann (Steve) Grassfield, of Austin, Texas. She is also survived by four granddaughters, Julie (Jimmy) Neitzel, of Austin, Texas; Traci (Matt) Jackson, of Olathe, Kan.; Elissa (Tim) Frickenschmidt, of Austin, Texas; Summer Juliet Gardner, of Red River, N.M. and seven great-grandchildren, Jake Michael Frickenschmidt, Gage Stephen Frickenschmidt, Powell Gardner Frickenschmidt, Ryan David Jackson, Paige Kathryn Jackson, Annie Verlee Neitzel and James Robert Neitzel III.

The family thanks Dr. Ronald White and his wonderful staff at Oklahoma Heart Hospital for their excellent, attentive and compassionate care for Verlee over the past two weeks.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m. at First Christian Church, Newkirk. There will be a private burial for the immediate family.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 1904 North Union, Ste. 103, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Source: Trout Funeral Home