Lillian was born on July 15, 1929 to Sid Lee and Jeffie Bowen Lee in Goose Creek, TX . After graduating from Robert E Lee High School in Baytown, TX she attended business school in Lufkin, TX.
Before graduation, Lillian landed her first job as an administrative clerk with Prudential Insurance in Houston, TX. This was the first of several positions in the field of insurance and medical practices. From 1967 to 1986, Lillian worked for Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Walnut Creek, CA, various doctors in Baytown and Greens Bayou, Tidelands Hospital and Baytown Hospital before retiring to be a Grandmother and travel with her husband, Jack Gardner.
In 1945 Jack and Lillian met and were wed in 1947 going on to have 2 children, Larry and Cindy.
Lillian was predeceased by the love of her life – Jack Gardner - her husband of over 71 years, son – Larry Eugene Gardner, parents – Sid and Jeffie Lee of Channelview TX, brother - John Sidney Lee, Sister – Nina McBride and Brother-in-Law, Bill McBride and nephew – John D Lee, In-laws – Walter and Mildred Gardner, Laverne Gardner Wells and Odell Wells, and Maxine Gardner Milligan, and Michael Milligan (great nephew) and numerous other extended family members. Lillian is survived by Daughter - Cindy Gardner Ripkowski Reisner and Son-in-Law Robert A Reisner of Little River, SC, Grandsons – Wade Ripkowski of Simpsonville, SC, Great-grandson Jack Ripkowski of Simpsonville, SC , Granddaughter-in-law, Maryann Ripkowski and Great-Grands Kayla Wilhite Ritter and husband, Nick Ritter, Step-Grandson – Chad Reisner along with numerous Dunn, Mooney, Jacobs, Williams, Barringer, Bowen and Lee cousins.
She was known as Auntie to most of her nieces and nephews, Aunt Lillian by others and Lillian by her cousins. Lillian was especially close to her cousins Gary and Debbie Dunn and family, Nephew Mike and Merian Milligan and family, Niece Teri McBride and Chris Litras and Niece Susan McBride Carpenter and Jeff Weger and their families – Eric and Travis Litras, Jamie Carpenter Stanberry and Seth Carpenter and their families.
Visitation will be at 10:30 a.m. and Service is to be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 3, 2020 at Earthman’s Funeral Home with a light lunch visitation immediately after in the common room at the Funeral Home with Burial to be at 1:30 p.m. at San Jacinto Cemetary in Greens Bayou off of I-10.
