John Gardner

JOHN GARDNER Click here to view John's Video Tribute MACKEY, ID -- John S. Gardner, 58, of Mackay, Idaho, passed away Sunday, July 26, 2009, at his cabin in Island Park from cardiac arrest. He was born on July 16, 1951, in Boise, Idaho. He is the son of Jack and LaVaun Gardner. He grew up in Idaho Falls and graduated from Skyline High School in 1969. He earned degrees from Ricks College , Brigham Young University and Idaho State University. In 1974, he married Margaret Norton. They had two children and were married for 27 years. They divorced in 2001. John met Karen Hames of Mackay, Idaho, in 2004. They shared several wonderful years together up until his passing and were engaged to be married. Karen’s family loved John very much. John worked in various occupations throughout his life. He sold automobiles and real estate. He was a manager at the Super 8 Motel. He taught business and computers at Cambridge, Shelley, and Bonneville High Schools. After earning a degree in Computer Information Systems, he worked in various computer related jobs. He also worked as a substitute teacher. John was an avid sports fan and loved football, basketball, volleyball and baseball. He served as a coach in several different sports and he worked as a baseball umpire. He especially enjoyed coaching his son’s ball teams through the years. John had many talents and abilities. He had a beautiful singing voice, played the guitar, did woodworking, and built models. He was also an avid reader. John served an LDS mission in the Kansas-Missouri Mission, and served in various callings in the LDS church such as athletic director and membership clerk. John especially loved spending time at his cabin with his family and friends. Fun times were spent snowmobiling, water and jet skiing, 4-wheeling and playing games. John was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Jeannie Ray. He is survived by his children: Melanie (Shane) Bennett and Tim (Ebony) Gardner; his birth mother, Lorna (Wendell) Terry; his half brothers and sisters: Dale Terry, Craig Terry, Robyn Wulle, Sandy Pett, Lori Burton; and his grandchildren: Rylee, Avery and Braxton Bennett, Jaden Gardner, and Lukus Call. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 31, 2009, at Wood Funeral Home East Side (963 S. Ammon) with Bishop Richard Reynolds of the Mackay LDS Ward officiating. The family will visit with friends on Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and on Friday from 10 to 10:45 a.m., both at Wood East Side. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in the Grove City Cemetery in Blackfoot. ---------------------------------------------------- Condolences received online: Steve and Jewel Harker jewelharker@gmail.com Melanie & Tim (& Margaret), Steve and I are so sad to hear about John's death. We have been in touch with him recently and hoped to see him shortly. Steve cried when he heard the news. He had just tried to call him a few days ago. We have really missed him and cherish all of the fun times we had with your family, sharing the fun snowmobiling adventures and bonding times at the cabin with him. We have missed him so much and were hoping to possibly see him at Kayla's upcoming wedding. No words can explain the kind of friendship we felt for him and all of the memories that will forever be in our hearts. He was a big part of our lives while we were in Idaho and we are so grateful for those times (he often would take Jason and Kayla in to your home to show them things he was doing, or work in the yard with Kayla at his heels while she played with Annie). We hope you are all doing okay and we just want you to know how much we love him still and know that we will all re-unite and spend time together as friends and family again. Please let us know (we sincerely mean it) if there is anything at all we can do for you. We love you and we will dearly miss him. Love & heartfelt sympathy, Steve and Jewel Harker & Family Craig Ritchie Melanie and Tim, I was sorry to hear about your Dad, I have you in my thoughts, time seems to pass so fast, I pray faith will be you and that there is meaning in everything our Father in Heaven does. Craig Ritchie BIA Board chaycock@pmt.org Our thoughts, condolences, and prayers to the family at your time of lose. Cleta Darnell cletakerber@gmail.com I was shocked to hear of John's death. I knew him well for a while a few years ago. My sympathies and condolences to his family. He was a good man. Wendyjo Ouch. I had no idea your dad was that close to crossing over and if I'd known I'd never have told him off for sending me those email viruses. I remember how much he loved airplanes and his boat. Especially he loved and liked to talk about the two of you, his son and daughter, and his grandchildren. GOD bless each of you, your families, all of you now and always. GOD Bless Mr. John S. Gardner. Lane and Tiffany Clayson tiffclayson@gmail.com We are so saddened by the news of John's death. We feel so blessed to have been able to get to know him a little better at the cabin. We all had a wonderful experience there and appreciated his great hospitality. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Shannon Ostler shanostler@gmail.com I was scrolling through the obituaries (my mother recently passed away) and was surprised and saddened to see John's name. I am so sorry. John's parents, Jack and LaVaun were best friends of my parents, Marsden and Phyllis Williams, since their youths. When I was young and my parents had to go out of town, I would often stay w/ Jack and LaVaun, who were so kind to me. Sometimes we would go to their cabin in Island Park, and it was a teen-aged John who taught me to water ski. I loved it! So sorry for your loss. Nancy Williams Stewart To John's family, My sister, Shannon W. Ostler just told me of finding John's obituary as she was locating our mother's (Phyllis C. Williams) obituary. My prayers and empathy are with you. Jack and LaVaun were like second parents to me as I was growing up. When I was older, they asked me to "baby-sit" your dad when they went out of town. He was delightful as a baby as well as on up into his teen years. That's when I married and moved away. Please know he was loved by many.