Mary Gardner

SIKESTON — Mary Edith Gardner, 83, died May 16, 2019, at her home in Sikeston. 

Born Sept. 8, 1935, in Marion County, Ala., to the late William Clarence Sanders and Lelar Franks Sanders, she was a homemaker, she was a member of the Smith Avenue Church of God in Sikeston and a member of the VFW Auxiliary Post 3174 in Sikeston.

On March 9, 1949, in Columbus, Miss., she married the Rev. Robert E. Gardner, who preceded her in death on Dec. 19, 2015.

Survivors include: three sons and two daughters-in-law, Jimmy and Penny Gardner of Memphis, Tenn., and Tim and Melody Gardner and Mark Gardner of Sikeston; four daughters and sons-in-law, Donna and Joe Ray of Morley, Dodie and Steve White of Deirks, Ark., Teresa and George Dansby of Sikeston and Angie and Billy McIntosh of Miner; one sister, Eulene "Judy" Eddy of  Rockford, Ill.; and 16 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by five brothers, James L. Sanders, Mack Sanders, Junior Sanders, Julius Sanders and L.J. Sanders; and one grandson.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until service time at 3 p.m. Sunday at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

Burial will follow in Blodgett Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Billy McIntosh, Scott Gardner, Timmy Gardner, J.J. Gardner, Noah Dansby and Dillon Heaton.

Online condolences may be shared at ponderfuneralhome.com.