Obituary

Carol Howard Gardner, 85, of Plainview passed away on Friday, June 14, 2013. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Plainview with the Rev. Bruce Green officiating and the Rev. Jo Roberts Mann assisting. Arrangements are under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors in Plainview. Carol was born March 13, 1928, to Thomas Russell and Morgia Shropshire Howard in Tientsin, China. Her father's commission in the Army led them to live in many places in the United States and abroad. Carol graduated from Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio where she was a cheerleader, and assisted in the World War II war drive and the USO. Carol graduated from the University of Texas with a B.S. in nutrition. While there, she was president of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority and Omicron Nu. In August of 1950 she married Robert Howard Gardner and moved to Falfurrias, Texas. They moved to Plainview in 1968. She owned Gardner Chevrolet until 2006. Carol was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church where she was a Eucharist lay minister, co-treasurer, Altar Guild directress and first female vestry member. She was a member of Chapter BL of PEO as well as a volunteer for March of Dimes, PTA, various charitable organizations and was a regular donor to the blood bank. Carol learned to knit socks for soldiers fighting in World War II, and continued to knit blankets and Christmas stockings for each new baby born into the family. Carol is survived by her children, Carrie Rollins and husband Reggie, Robin Dryden and husband Randy, Tommy Gardner and wife Debra, Ellen Bass and husband John; her grandchildren, Luke Rollins and wife Kim, Britt Rollins, Grant Rollins and wife Kelly, Logan Dryden, Callie Holton and husband Will, Randall Dryden, Will Gardner, Andrew Gardner, John Gardner Bass, Sarah Bass and Margaret Bass; five great-grandchildren; and sister Morgia Lepick and husband Fred and their children and grandchildren. Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Morgia Howard; and two brothers, Thomas Russell Howard Jr. and John Cornelius Howard. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 710 Joliet St., Plainview, TX 79072 or the Joe Arrington Cancer Center, 4104 22nd Place, Lubbock, TX. The family would like to thank the staff at Plainview Healthcare Center for their love and care of Carol.