Marie (Clemons) Gardner was born in St. Louis, Missouri February 21, 1931, and cherished early memories of a childhood spent with Grandmother (Jennie Wolfe Nelson) at the Muny in Forest Park, watching movies, and learning about her German-Irish heritage while popping popcorn in the fireplace.
Marie was born to Marion Nelson, but was adopted later by Ambrose and Beulah Clemons, also of St. Louis. They were an older couple who showered her with love, a Christian foundation, and what appeared like unlimited shopping. She loved them and felt thankful for their kindness and generosity.
After graduating from Sumner High School in 1948, she began to develop her passion for the arts. Her love for Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Tchaikovsky was evident by her natural ability to play them on piano. She also painted beautifully and enjoyed Broadway musicals, dancing, champagne and fine restaurants. For a brief while, she was a loan processor, and also drew sketches of original dresses for her cousin, a professional seamstress, to create; however, Marie preferred her job as housewife and mother.
In 1950 she married Donald Greene, and they moved to Denver, Colorado where Donald became a math teacher. They had one daughter, Kim. Marie and Donald divorced shortly after, and Marie returned to St. Louis, and gave birth to Laine, then Kelley before marrying Thomas Gerald Gardner, a Master Chief Corpsman with the U.S. Navy. His career transferred them to California, where they gave birth to two sons, Thomas Gerald Jr. (Jerry) and Christopher. They also lived in Illinois and Hawaii before settling in San Diego, California. They would later divorce in 1977.
Marie lived awhile in Savannah, Georgia; St. Louis; and Stafford and Montclair, Virginia before returning to San Diego in November 2010. She was a self-proclaimed party girl when she said she rediscovered God, accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior, and it changed her life completely.
Her family and friends will remember her always as a complex, beautiful woman in pearls and pink who was confident, talented and funny, lived fully, and loved her family and the Lord.
Marie said that she was ready to see Grandmother again and died soon after on May 17, surrounded by family.
She is survived by her five children Kim Greene, Laine Shaw, Kelley Gardner, Jerry Gardner (Dana) of Atlanta, Georgia, and Chris Gardner; her eight grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; one great, great granddaughter; two sisters-in-law; and other extended family who will all miss her deeply.
Her family will hold a memorial service to celebrate her life on Wednesday, May 29 at Pacific Beach -- La Jolla Chapel, 4710 Cass St., San Diego, CA 92109 from 10:41-11:30 a.m. Cypress View Mausoleum, Mortuary and Crematory has been entrusted with cremation arrangements, and the ashes will be scattered during a private family ceremony.
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