Marjorie Eloise Gard

Marjorie Eloise Gard, 89, Overland Park, Kansas passed away on March 21, 2016 at Leisure Terrace, from complications associated with Alzheimers. Funeral service will be 1:00 pm on March 26, 2016 at Valley View United Methodist Church with burial at Resurrection Cemetery immediately following the service at 83rd and Quivira Road, Lenexa, KS 66215. Visitation will be Friday, March 25th from 6-8 pm at McGilley & Hoge Johnson County Memorial Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, KS 66204.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association at http://www.alz.org/join_the_cause_tributes.asp through the “In Honor of Marjorie Eloise Owens Gard” tribute.

Mrs. Marjorie Gard was born Marjorie Eloise Owens, August 10, 1926 in Northeast Louisiana to Frank and Lula Epsabell Owens. She graduated from LSU with a teaching degree and shortly after married James R. Gard from McGhee, Arkansas. Marjorie taught school in McGhee while Jim finished his Architectural Degree from the University of Arkansas. While there she had Russell Owens Gard (1950) and Kent Alan Gard (1952). Shortly after Kent was born they moved to Lubbock, Texas where Jim took a job with Acme Brick Company. Keith Franklin Gard was born in Lubbock, Texas in 1956. In Lubbock, Marjorie was involved with the Methodist Church. For a short time the family lived in El Paso, TX as Jim advanced his job with Acme Brick and Marjorie supported the boys in their activities. After a few years in El Paso, Acme Brick took them to Amarillo, TX. Here Russ was in junior high and high school, and Marjorie taught at a private school which Keith attended.

In 1967, Jim was transferred to the Kansas City office of Acme Brick, and the family followed that summer. Marjorie and the three boys survived the drive from Amarillo to Overland Park in a 1965 Mustang with no air conditioning. Russ and Marjorie had the front seat with Keith and Kent in the small back seat.

Marjorie then found her dream job with Shawnee Mission West High School teaching Home Economics. Up to 1970 (when Kent graduated from SMW) boys were not able to take Home Education classes. By the time Keith was at SMW four years later, she was teaching Bachelor Cooking with the boys marveling at her control, probably not knowing she had raised 3 hooligans herself. She and Jim were active in the German Club, Rotary & Rotary Wives, an investment club and garden clubs in the area. Marjorie taught at Shawnee Mission West High School until July 1, 1991, when she retired.

After retirement, Marjorie was active at Valley View United Methodist Church as well as the Garden Clubs in the area. She spent hours in her front and back yard flower beds, cussing the squirrels and rabbits. Most of the neighbors knew her from her walks with Pao, the Chihuahua she bought to keep Jim company.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her brothers, Oswald Owens and Benjamin Owens, sister Mae (Owens) McGrew, husband, James R. Gard and her parents Frank and Lula Epsabell Owens.

Survivors include: her brother, Lamar Owens, and sisters, Willy Lovett and Emilou Bush; her sons, Russell Owens Gard & fiance Sharon Balas (Charlotte, North Carolina), Kent Alan Gard & spouse Frances Gard (Overland Park, Kansas), and Keith Franklin Gard & spouse Jane Gard (Kansas City, Missouri); grandchildren Melissa Gard (Prairie Village, Kansas), Nicole Walters & spouse Maurice Walters (Denton, Texas), Christopher Gard & spouse Caitlin Gard (Kansas City, Missouri), and Nicholas Gard & fiance Katherine Sweeney; great-grandchildren Donavan Walters, Dejah Walters, Dominique Walters and a fourth on the way (Denton, Texas), and expected child of Christopher and Caitlin Gard (Kansas City, Missouri).