October 12, 1926 – July 11, 2016
Ida Sue Riley Gardner, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, friend and community leader passed peacefully after a lengthy illness on July 11, 2016 at Hamilton General Hospital.
Ida Sue was the daughter of the late Kate Waggoner and Robert (Bob) Riley. She graduated from Hamilton High School in May 1944, the salutatorian of her class. She attended the North Texas State Teachers College that summer. On August 6, 1944, she married James Kenneth (Ken) Gardner. They honeymooned in Charleston, South Carolina where Kenneth was stationed as a member of the Army Air Corp during World War II.
Sue loved being a wife, a homemaker and raising three children. She taught kindergarten classes when her children were very young. She and Kenneth were the owners of Riley-Gardner Memorial; she kept handwritten books for the company for many years. Sue was honored as Hamilton Citizen of the Year in 1982 for her outstanding work in the Development of Pecan Creek Park which was opened and dedicated in 1987. Sue was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Hamilton.
After the children left home, Sue and Kenneth traveled with friends and were able to visit many places all over the world. Sue was an accomplished artist and won several awards for her paintings both in watercolors and oils. She was an avid reader; loved working outdoors; enjoyed playing dominoes and Bridge with friends; and seldom missed working the daily crossword puzzle in the newspaper.
Sue was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 53 years, by three sisters: Nora Fields, Joyce Porter and Mary Lou Straughan, and by a daughter-in-law, Joan Gardner.
She is survived by her three children, James Kenneth (Jim) Gardner, Jr. and wife Karin of Mansfield, TX; Dr. Susan Jayne Gardner and husband, David Bauer, of Allen, TX; and Robert Walter (Bob) Gardner and wife, Mary K. of Hamilton.
“Pa Sue” is survived by six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren: Jamey Seely and partner, Stephanie Rubin of Houston/New York City, NY; Dr. Robbye K. Lengefeld and husband, Jon and children, Sydney, Caleb and Kate of Hamilton; Bart Gardner and wife, Stacey, and children, Hadley and Landon, of Rockwall; Jessica Warlick and partner, Kaci Cantrell and daughters, Nola and Poppy, of Allen; Megan Paige Gardner and daughters, Kaitlyn and Kylie, of Arlington; and Riley Gardner and wife, Ashley, and sons, Tristan and Conner, also of Hamilton. She is also survived by seven step-grandchildren: Kathy and David English and family of Rockwall; Brian and Dawna Kunz and family of Arlington; Major Aaron L. and Beth Jackson and family of Colorado Springs, CO; Micah and Tye Jackson and family of Flint, TX; Stephen and Nicole Bauer and family of Tempe, AZ; Matthew Bauer of Scottsdale, AZ; and Sarah Wright of San Anselmo, CA.
She is also survived by one brother, Dr. Jack Riley and wife Edna of Temple; one sister, Martha Henkes and husband, Melvin, of Hamilton; and two sister-in-laws, Nelda Gardner of North Richland Hills and Beverly Gardner of Tennessee. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and several life-long friends.
Memorials may be directed to the Hamilton Public Library; First United Methodist Church Youth; Hamilton General Hospital Auxiliary; Go Fund Me Account for great-granddaughter, Nola Cantrell (https://www.gofundme.com/29cfa3rb); or the charity of your choice.
The family would like to thank all of the many friends of the family for your support over the last several years. Special thanks go to the nurses and staff of Hamilton Healthcare System, Dr. Randy Lee, & Dr. Robbye Lengefeld; the staff of Solaris Healthcare; and the staff of Dove Hill Care Center.
Arrangements under the direction of Riley Funeral Home, Hamilton, Texas.
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