Norene Frances Gardner

Norene (Kepley) Gardner, formerly of Wray, passed from this life to be with her Lord and Savior on August 15, 2022 at the age of 101.

Norene was born May 14, 1921 in Braymer, Missouri to Wayne and Bessie Kepley. At the age of 3, her family moved from Missouri to a farm near Idalia, where they lived until moving to a ranch north of Laird in 1937.  Norene graduated from Laird High School in 1939 and then completed one year of post-graduate studies in Wray.  During this time, she met her future husband, Ronald Gardner.  Norene and Ron were married on September 22, 1940.  To this union two daughters, Ronna and Carol, were born.

Norene and Ron, along with his parents, Ralph and Delia Gardner, operated many businesses in Wray over the years.  Norene was also a telephone operator for the town of Wray for many years.

In 1956, Norene and Ron relocated their family to Arvada, Colorado.  After retiring in 1982, Norene and Ron returned to Wray to care for Norene’s parents.  They remained in Wray until Ron’s death in 2007.  At that time, Norene moved to Colorado Springs to live with her daughter, Ronna.

Among her many hobbies were sewing, gardening, baking and spending time with her family.  Norene was a faithful Christian all her life and was an active member of the Church of Christ in Wray and Colorado Springs.

Norene is survived by her children, Ronna Hladek and Carol and Glenn Gantenbein, her sister, Jean Rutledge; her grandchildren, Scott and Gretchen Gantenbein, Mike Gantenbein, Rick and Cathie Gantenbein, Julie and Gene Campbell, Steven and Deedre Gantenbein, Vicki and Paul Phillips, Jim and Stacy Hladek, and Jeff and Candi Hladek; numerous great and great-great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Norene was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister Mildred Copple, her mother-in-law and father-in-law, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Walter and Ferne Sparks, her granddaughter Shelby Hladek, and her nephew Robert Sparks.

Funeral services were held at the Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home, 427 Adams Street, Wray, Colorado on Saturday, August  20, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. with Eddie White officiating.  Anyone who wishes may make a contribution to Mountain States Children’s Home, PO Box 1097, Longmont, CO 80502-9912 or on-line at MSCH.org, in Norene’s memory.

Interment was held at the Grandview Cemetery following the services.

Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.