Obituary for Carol M. Gardner
Carol was born on February 10, 1934 in Oakland California to Clair and Margaret (Ganger) Creighton. They moved to Oregon where she graduated from The Dalles High School. After graduation she worked for her dad at the family owned Meier's Market and helped in the summer with the cherry orchards. In 1952 she married Dale Graham. They had two children, Sam and Dave. Later divorced and married Louie Gardner and had two children, Joni and Nancy. As a local fixture in Dufur she organized the yearly Rocky Mountain oyster feed. She was a mail carrier in The Dalles and retired from her career after working for a few more years in Tygh Valley.
Carol was part of the high school swim team and managed to swim across the Columbia River. Living near the Columbia also allowed her to become an avid water skier. She had a passion for reading books and playing card games with her kids and grandkids. Her other love was her horses. She got her first horse, Ranger, when she was 12. She always had a horse from then on, pleasure riding with friends or helping someone move cattle, anywhere from the Wallowa Mountains to the Oregon Coast. She also led the local parade with her horse, carrying the colors. As a Master gardener she loved spending time in her yard.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Clair and Margaret Creighton, son Dave Gardner, brother Mike Creighton and long time companion Jake Sigman. She is survived by her son Sam (LaDonna) Gardner, Joni (Frank) Thomas and Nancy (Jeff) Reed, 9 grandkids and 18 great grandkids.
A Celebration of Life Potluck will be held at the Dufur City Park May 22nd,2021 at 1 pm.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • Celilo Chapel 204 E. 4th Street, The Dalles, Oregon 97058. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.
Carol was part of the high school swim team and managed to swim across the Columbia River. Living near the Columbia also allowed her to become an avid water skier. She had a passion for reading books and playing card games with her kids and grandkids. Her other love was her horses. She got her first horse, Ranger, when she was 12. She always had a horse from then on, pleasure riding with friends or helping someone move cattle, anywhere from the Wallowa Mountains to the Oregon Coast. She also led the local parade with her horse, carrying the colors. As a Master gardener she loved spending time in her yard.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Clair and Margaret Creighton, son Dave Gardner, brother Mike Creighton and long time companion Jake Sigman. She is survived by her son Sam (LaDonna) Gardner, Joni (Frank) Thomas and Nancy (Jeff) Reed, 9 grandkids and 18 great grandkids.
A Celebration of Life Potluck will be held at the Dufur City Park May 22nd,2021 at 1 pm.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center • Celilo Chapel 204 E. 4th Street, The Dalles, Oregon 97058. Visit www.AndersonsTributeCenter.com to leave a note of condolence for the family.