Helen Christine Gardner

Helen Christine Holt Gardner born July 28,1927 in Sudan,Texas passed away in her sleep on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at Adam’s Place Nursing Home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, and life-long member of the Methodist Church. She was born the youngest of four children to Horace Christopher Holt and Caroline “Callie” Georgia Bateman Holt, on their family farm on the Lamb-Bailey County line. Her family moved to Muleshoe, Texas in 1931, when her parents purchased the Panhandle Refining Company retail and wholesale station. In 1940, her mother Callie opened a cafe across the street on the southwest corner of what is now the intersection of Texas Hwy 214 and Interstate 84. Growing up, Helen worked for her parents and was an active member of the First Methodist Church where she played piano and organ. She first met her future husband, Paul E Gardner, while attending first grade.She graduated from Muleshoe High School in 1944. Attending McMurry University in Abilene, Texas, she graduated in 1948 with a degree in Business. She and Paul Gardner were married June 4,1948 in Muleshoe, Texas, where she taught accounting, shorthand,and typing at Muleshoe High School. In the early 1950’s they moved to Midland,Texas where their only child, Mark, was born in 1955. From there Paul’s career in insurance took them to Tyler in 1957 then to Richardson,Texas in 1959 where Helen taught business subjects at Richardson High School. In 1969 they moved to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, then in 1973 to Westfield,N.J., then later Plainfield,N.J. In the early 1990’s they moved to Charlotte, North Carolina where Paul retired. In 2003 they moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Helen accumulated numerous life-long friends everywhere she resided through her church, women’s clubs, and community involvement. She traveled extensively,seeing all of North America and made trips to Europe, the Middle East and Hawaii. She saw the world and led a full life. She is survived by her son, Mark Paul Gardner and wife Martha, and three grandsons, Christopher Holt Gardner and wife Alicia, Michael Jeffrey Gardner and wife Sarah, and David Paul Gardner. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her siblings, Horace Garland Holt, Clyde Ozias Holt, and Mary Elizabeth Holt Garth. A private family memorial service will be held on October 18 in Nashville, Tennessee. Honoring her wishes, her mortal remains are to be cremated and entombed with her husband at Woodlawn Memorial Park, Nashville, Tennessee.