Dewey County Obituary
Sunnyside Cemetery

aka Vici

CARRIE SUE GARDNER-MORRIS

15 Mar 1968 - 26 Nov 2011

© Woodward News
November 30, 2011
Reprinted with permission
Submitted by: Ann Weber

Woodward, Okla. — At noon on March 15, 1968, Carrie Sue Gardner-Morris was welcomed into the loving arms of her parents, Louis and Betty Gardner, at Sharon, Oklahoma as the eldest of their five children. Growing up, Carrie abounded with energy and a love for life. Never believing too busy was a possibility, Carrie filled her days and nights with school and 4-H activities. Success came from Carrie’s hard work and dedication, and she won numerous honors and awards, including being the valedictorian of her high school class at Sharon-Mutual, winning sewing contests and election as a district and state 4-H officer. While Carrie was gifted at many things, cooking, canning and sewing were three of her favorites. As a twelve year old, Carrie made the older women at the Oklahoma State Fair shudder when she walked in with her exhibits. You got it! Carrie usually took home the blue ribbon. Most of us here today have been a recipient of a gift of Carrie’s award winning cinnamon rolls. This same love for cooking and sewing that Carrie inherited from her mom has been passed on to her daughters.

Following graduation from high school, Carrie started a family tradition by continuing her education at Oklahoma State University, where she majored in fashion design. Though Carrie loved her Cowboys, she had a greater love for her longtime friend and sweetheart, Lester. This love began at a young age, with Carrie telling tall tales of catching fish with a gold safety pin and a kernel of corn while they cooked vegetables from the family garden over an open flame outside the teepee in the back yard. Carrie and Lester began their journey together as husband and wife, and as best friends, on October 3, 1987, making their first home near Vici, Oklahoma, where they were active members of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, with Carrie being baptized on September 20, 1987.

Always looking for a challenge, Carrie put her fashion-design education to work by founding Sagebrush Manufacturing, a western apparel design company. Carrie spent countless hours designing new patterns and sewing western wear that was marketed around the country. Once Carrie and Lester purchased Woodward Monument Company from Lester’s parents, Garvin and Virgie Morris, Carrie put her design skills to work as she and Lester began crafting one-of-a-kind granite memorials.

Much to the delight of their parents and siblings, after being married nearly 10 years, Carrie and Lester finally started their family when Nikki Rae was born on July 6, 1997. Their family was completed with the arrival of Brenna Kaye on July 22, 2001. The focus of Carrie’s life quickly shifted to being a mom, and a great mom she was. Carrie and Lester worked tirelessly to ensure that their girls had, and will continue to have, the opportunity to participate in 4-H, FFA, basketball, softball, church and other activities and to enjoy all that life has to offer. From cooking and sewing, to clogging and playing the fiddle or drums, to growing and selling pumpkins and produce, to raising and showing sheep, all of these activities were done as a family. One of Carrie’s greatest joys was coaching her daughters’ summer league softball teams. Carrie’s most recent endeavor was to help establish Persimmon Creek Ovine, a registered sheep flock, for the purpose of raising elite lambs for her daughters to show. Lester, being an amazing father and husband, never tired or scoffed at Carrie’s crazy ideas or endeavors.

Though Carrie’s focus was on her family, she was always willing to work hard to create opportunities for others. Carrie was the ultimate giver - a giver of her time. She wanted everyone in her family and in her community to have opportunities. If there was an activity going on in Vici, Carrie was going to be there and was always one of the first to volunteer. No matter how busy her schedule, Carrie always had time to help others. Even though Lester told her it wouldn’t work, Carrie’s commitment to the town of Vici resulted in her establishing a successful community fair in 1989. The Vici community fair continues to be held every August. Carrie was also instrumental in helping found and run the local Chamber of Commerce, the Vici Vision newspaper and the Great Western Opry. When the local grocery store appeared destined for closure, Carrie and Lester were quick to volunteer their time and money to ensure the store stayed alive for the community.

While hard work was a priority for Carrie, so too was having fun with Lester, Nikki and Brenna. One of Carrie’s most cherished memories was when she and Lester surprised their girls with a trip to Disney World for Christmas. Two years ago when Nikki and Brenna were headed off on an end of the school year trip with their cousins and grandparents during the busiest time of the year for the monument company, Carrie worked day and night designing monuments and then hopped a plane and headed to Florida to make sure she didn’t miss out on experience with her girls and the rest of the Gardner family.

Unfortunately, Carrie’s vigor and love for her family and life came to an unexpected end on November 26, 2011. Carrie will be greatly missed by her husband, Lester, and their two girls, Nikki and Brenna, as well as by her parents, Louis and Betty Gardner of Sharon, OK, and her mother-in-law, Virgie Morris, of Vici, OK. Carrie is also survived by her grandmother, Viola Gardner of Coushatta, LA; brother Dr. Brett A. Gardner and wife Molly of Garden City, KS; sister Jill Watkins and husband Benny of Vici, OK; sister Jeanne Mann and husband Forrest of Drummond, OK; brother Kent W. Gardner, Esquire, of Edmond, OK; sister-in-law Barbara McCracken and husband Brad of Dolores, CO; sister-in-law Pamala Davidson and husband Michael of Waynoka, OK; brother-in-law Larry Morris and wife Amber of Vici, OK; sixteen beloved nieces and nephews and another due any day, one great nephew; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends. Carrie was preceded in death by her father-in-law, Garvin Morris, and her niece, Charity Watkins.

Funeral Services were held Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at the Church of the Firstborn, Vici, Oklahoma with burial following at Sunnyside Cemetery. Services arranged by Shaw Funeral Home, Vici, Oklahoma. Condolences may be made to the family and video tribute viewed at shawfuneralhome.net.

Memorials may be made to the Nikki and Brenna Morris Scholarship Fund c/o: Shaw Funeral Home, PO Box 276, Vici, OK 73859.