On Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, Marie Haynie Gardner, a loving wife and mother of eight children, passed away at the age of 81. Marie was born on Feb. 17, 1939, in her home in Pima to Clarence and Ethel (McBride) Haynie. She attended Arizona State College in Flagstaff, now known as NAU, where she met and married George Ralph Gardner on June 28, 1960, in the Mesa Arizona Temple. She graduated in May of 1961 with a Bachelors in Elementary Education. She was a homemaker for most of her adult life until her kids were raised. She worked in the school as a kindergarten teacher, aide, reading specialist and even one semester as the elementary school music director. They raised five sons, Brian, Michael, Keith, Brent, Kyle, and three daughters, Kimberly, Kathleen and Kellie. Marie lived life fearlessly. She was always up for an adventure – from riding the wildest roller coasters with the grandkids to touring seedy neighborhoods from Waikiki to Denmark (with her not yet released missionary son). She was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She loved the church (except Sunday School) and loved to serve. She could be found nearly every day helping someone in the community. Marie had a passion for family, reading and family history. She loved the beach and to travel. She mentioned many times, as she was standing in a new country, that never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she would get to see that part of the world. Marie and George served a church mission to Tonga and fell in love with the people and culture of the island, where she got to combine two of her passions, exploring foreign countries and the ocean. You would rarely find Marie without a book with a castle, horse, and handsome man on the cover. You couldn’t visit Marie’s house and leave without at least a bite to eat. She was known for her quick wit, stubbornness, willingness to serve, thriftiness, open door, and a never-ending supply of chocolate-chip cookies. Marie was preceded in death by her husband, George and her daughter, Kimberly. She is survived by seven children, Brian (Jane), Michael (Patricia), Keith, Brent, Kathleen (David) Smith, Kellie (Karl) Johnson and Kyle (Alli); 33 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
