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Woodward, Okla. — Mildred G. Gardner, 90 year old Mooreland resident, died Saturday, July 19, 2008 in the Woodward Regional Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 22, 2008 in the First United Methodist Church of Mooreland with Pastor Tom Marcum and Pastor David Mercer officiating. Interment will be in the Mooreland Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Billings Funeral Home.
Mildred Geraldine (Ingraham) Gardner was born May 2, 1918 in Driscoll, Oklahoma; she was the 3rd child of Charles Fredrick and Jane (Million) Ingraham. Mildred attended the Curtis school until the 8th grade and then the Mooreland schools, graduating from Mooreland High School in 1936. She met Lewis Gardner in Quinlan and they were united in marriage on May 1, 1937 in Lipscomb, Texas. To this union was born four daughters, twins, Meryl Rae and Sheryl Kay, Mary Jane and Yvonne. They made their home in Quinlan until they moved to Mooreland in 1951. Mildred worked at Henderson Grocery and Little‚s Drug. Lewis preceded her in death on June 30, 1960. After his death, Mildred was appointed by the Governor to finish Lewis‚s term as County Commissioner, making her the first woman to serve as a County Commissioner in the state of Oklahoma. When the term was over, Mildred elected not to run for a 2nd term and instead went to work at the new Western Farmers Electric Cooperative Plant west of Mooreland. She later went to work in the Woodward Court Clerks office as Deputy Court Clerk and retired in January of 1992. After her retirement, Mildred returned to work as bailiff for the District Court.
Mildred was a charter member of the First Christian Church of Mooreland. She enjoyed making quilts, square dancing, painting, but most of all she loved being with her family. She loved traveling and the time she spent with her four daughters. Mildred was a member of the Rebeccas, Order of the Eastern Star, Square Dance Club, and County Officers and Deputies Association.
She is survived by her three daughters, Meryl Kahoe and husband Jim of Mooreland; Mary Jane Hensley and husband Leland of Mooreland; Yvonne Devine and husband Max of Waynoka; 24 grandchildren; 56 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great grandchildren; one brother Jim Ingraham and wife Wanda of Portland, Oregon; three sisters Dorothy Bull and husband Dorman of Texarkana, Arkansas; Neola Reed of Friona, Texas; Helen Holloway and husband Cecil of Mooreland; three brothers-in-law; five sisters-in-law; a host of nephews and nieces, other relatives and many good friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Lewis, her parents, Charles and Jane, her brothers, Lewis, George, Charles, Bob, and Walt, her sisters, Verle, Venita, and her daughter Sheryl Leach.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, with the funeral home accepting the contributions.
Remembrances may be made on line at www.billingsfuneralhomewoodward.com