Shirley Ann Gardner

Shirley was born in Easton, Pennsylvania to Ronald and Mabel Onley on June 1, 1932. There she

grew up with her two older sisters Sarah and Ivy. On April 16th of 1960 she married H. Robert

Gardner Jr. Shirley met the love of her life, Bob, on a blind date set up by her future mother in law

and they enjoyed 47 happy years together.

Shirley graduated from Easton Area High School in 1950 and graduated from Easton Hospital

School of Nursing in 1953. As a registered nurse she began her career in a hospital setting at Easton

Hospital and Helene Fuld Hospital. She continued on in her nursing career from there working in a

nursing home setting as well as many years of private duty. She also worked for over 15 years as a

volunteer nurse with the Wyoming Valley Red Cross.

She was very active in her church while living in Shavertown, Pennsylvania. At Trucksville United

Methodist Church she served on the Church Board, was a Financial Secretary and an auditor. She

later became a member of the Jonesboro United Methodist Church when she and her husband Bob

moved to Sanford, North Carolina after Bob’s retirement.

Shirley was a kind and gentle soul but she had a very independent spirit. She made friends wherever

she went. Her husband Bob and her family meant the world to her. She enjoyed traveling with her

husband Bob, baking delicious treats and food for friends and family and reading books that took her

on all kinds of adventures.

Shirley is preceded in death by her husband H. Robert Gardner Jr, her parents and sisters Sarah

Onley and Ivy Mileski.

Shirley is survived by her daughter Amy(Richard) Crake, son Lance(Elizabeth) Gardner, grandchildren Sean Gardner, Andrew Gardner and Margaret Gardner, nieces Frances(William) Surber and Lynn (Ged) McGrann, and nephews Drew(LeAnne) Naylor, Ward(Pam) Naylor, Doug(Peg) Shurts and Wayne(Debbie) Shurts.

Gravesite service and burial at Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church in Stewartsville, New Jersey to

be announced at a later date.

Memorials may be given to Trucksville United Methodist Church, Jonesboro United Methodist

Church, Metropolitan Ministries or a charity of your choice.

The family of Shirley Gardner also wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the medical staff at

Regency Oaks Rehabilitation, Mease Hospital and Discovery Village for all the care they provided to

Shirley while she was under their care.