Eunice Elaine Gardner

Born on Veterans Day in 1927 in Willard, Ohio, to William Darrell and Hazel Mae (Stotts) Hurst, Eunice became a Registered Nurse at Fairview General Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio under the United States Cadet Nurse Corps, a program established during World War II to ensure that the United States had enough nurses to care for the needs of its citizens on both the home and war fronts. She graduated after the war in 1948 and became board certified in 1949. It was during her nurses’ training that she met her future husband, James Gardner and married in February of 1949. They had four children—William of Chapel Hill, NC; Linda Necker (Charles Necker) of Phoenix, AZ; Darrell (Marcia Gardner) of Santa Fe, NM; and Megan Clark (Cary Clark) of Chapel Hill, NC.

Eunice was known for her homemaking and hospitality in hosting family gatherings and parties. She was also a great sports fan and avid golfer. Her favorite pastime in her later years was watching the old movies found on the Western Channel.

She is survived by her brother, Vern Hurst; her sister, Alene Baratucci; her four children, five living grandchildren, Elliot, Lauren, Cory, Brice and Marcos; and four great grandchildren, Bridgette, Ethan, Lindsey and Josie. She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, James; brother, Kenneth; and two grandchildren, Tessa and Bridgit.

Memorial gifts can be given to Hospice of the Valley or the National Wildlife Federation.