Happy Birthday Daddy today you would be 93. I got to go with Cathy and Michael to see Robbie & his beautiful baby boys, who look just like him. You would be sooooo…,roux of Robbie and Kate. He is even raising chickens and basically living on a cozy farm doing all the work by themselves. Jerry is doing well too with Cheryl but please protect him from the bats & ticks in his barn. I saw the problem when I went to Jerry’s house for dinner to celebrate MM’s birthday the littlest boy. Jerry could be in danger according to the Ohio health department. I know you are looking down at all of us we will never forget you. Cathy really misses you bad. She is doing ok but misses you. ILove you and hope heaven is as beautiful as I think it is. We had a lot of bird encounters lately and I always think about you. I have your giant bird book in my office on the shelf. I love you happy birthday daddy. I’ll keep in touch Jeanne.

Beautiful bird show that I know you would love.

March 10, 2022. Dear Dad, I was at a store and the song, Moon River started playing really loud and sweet. I thought it might have been you contacting me. I love you and promise none of us forgot you. You were a good dad so you can rest in peace and enjoy heaven with the same passion you had on Earth. 

This is a short story my dad wrote in 2008:
Don’t be misled.  My family had no extra money, so running the streets in Northwest Chicago during the 1930’s and 40”s were Andy’s and my recreation.
When we got bored there were always some free tickets to enter the Riverview (Chicago River) Recreation Park So, Andy and I managed to enter the many acre amusement park, with great anticipation.
Bang, Bang!  Someone was shooting the 22 caliber target rifles for prizes.  We joyfully scrambled around the booth looking for shell casings, which we enjoyed collecting; much to the annoyance of the booth operator.
While we each hoarded our 75¢ lunch money, we passed many small diners with delicious sausage and hamburger smells.  Sometimes there as a large group of people cooking and eating in the larger picnic grove.  A long with the occasional accordion playing, the park’s loudspeakers boomed Strauss Waltzes, pretty much all over the park.
As we saw the boat with screaming people slide down the Chute the Chutes, water slide, we heard another sound.  It was Bob’s Roller Coaster (the park’s fastest) careening around the track with the riders also yelling.  We yelled back, past hungry, and decided to buy our lunch.
Afterwards, we saw the Haunted House, called Hades, appear.  Using the last of our money, we paid, and sat on one mobile car seat.  It moved forward through two clanging doors, and we were confronted with weird noises, ghosts, skeletons, devils and strange stringy things, that brushed our faces.  After 10 scary minutes, we banged through the exit door & the ride was over.
There were, of course, many other exhibits, roller coasters, and an animal act, but the one ride everyone remembers is the Parachute Tower.  The structure could be seen outside the park, and with a 200 foot drop, it was a very scary ride.  After watching several couples drop, but somehow surviving, we left the park, satisfied that it was no longer a boring day.



Dear Daddy,
Liam always says, OWL when he walks out of our front door. For some reason he is always looking for an OWL. He even searches when he goes to the park but ALL we see are two hawks who always follow us around as we play.  You and Liam have the SAME birthday and both love OWLS.  So cute! I miss you and always think of you when I see animals in nature or Liam says, OWL!  Cathy told me she has a new BARN OWL at her new house and he talks to her.  Sometimes I wonder if these occurences are signs that you are looking down from HEAVEN watching us.  Well, we all love you! Prayers that President Trump wins, God Willing in 2020 so our country remains Democratic and is not SOLD OUT BY BIDEN to CHINA and the Globalists.  Our grandchildren NEED a future America safe from the LIKES of BILL GATES< GEORGE SOROS and OBUMMER.  I LOVE YOU! THINKING OF YOU ALWAYS with LOVE JEANNIE

I thought I was the only one missing you when I’m out in nature and I see the beautiful sunrise or sunset or a beautiful animal. It’s so funny that Jerry and Cathy have also felt the same way I feel so that just proves that you are close to us and that you are looking down from whatever dimension you’re in and you can see us. We all love you! You won’t ever be forgotten.

Every time I see a hawk a beautiful hawk daddy I know you’re smiling down at us from heaven. I love you! When we look up at the sky all of us know that you are the air in heaven looking down. I hope you have a fabulous life there!

I was feeding stray cats on my front porch in South Carolina, and I realized that my love for animals and nature was from my Dad.  One of my earliest memories is Dad taking us kids on a hike in the Volo Bog in Illinois in early spring.  Mom stayed home to recover from child raising.  I lost one of my boots in the bog.  The car was full of mud on the ride home.  We had a blast; no rock or bug was left un-examined.  
Dad loved guinea pigs.  He built a multilevel Guinea Pig Mansion on Afton Way for Perky, Pinky, Celia, and Half & Half.  Those cute lil critters had quite the adventure.  When Sheryl catches me putting out food for the possum, she cries, "Next you will be feeding the Raccoons, like your Dad."  Cathy, Tim, Jeanne and I all have pets.   Dad, you did a great job of exposing us kids to the joy of our little animal friends and all of nature.  I think of you whenever I spot an unknown bird on the Bird Feeder.  I love you and miss you already, Jerry  


I miss you so much Dad.I somehow thought I could hold on to you forever!  I cherish all the days we spent together. All the car rides and listening to the girl from Ipanema.  I remember when I was little ,Jeanne and I would hide in your closet and wait for you to come home from work. We would jump out and sing..for hes a Jolly Good Fellow!! You were a Jolly GoodFellow! Everyone loved you! Every bird ,every raccoon I see, I'll think of you! I will meet you in heaven some day!  I Love you Daddy Forever and ever! Cathy

I was missing my Dad, Gardner this weekend.  He and I share an interest in Jazz and symphonic music from the romantic period.  I played some Cole Porter and some Coltrane from his collection of CDs.  The music transported me back to the late 1960s.  My Mom and Dad were finishing up the painting and woodwork in a brand new home they had purchased in Bloomingdale, Illinois.  My parents were happy and the future looked promising even though the Vietnam war was raging.   Dad would often make lunch on Saturdays and breakfast on Sunday mornings.  I made french toast, just as he did on Sunday mornings, this Sunday.  The sound and smells brought me back to us, 4 kids, sitting round the table having breakfast in 1969.  Good memories.  I miss you Dad.

OBITUARY

Gardner Leroy Jones

25 May, 1930 – 16 December, 2019

Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home at Palms Memorial Park

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