Bonny Ann (Wheeler) Gardner

Bonny Ann (Wheeler) Gardner, 79, was born Sept. 12, 1936, in Osceola to John Wesley Wheeler and Neva (Burrow) Wheeler. She passed away in Community Springs Healthcare, El Dorado Springs, Sept. 5, 2016.

She accepted Jesus as her Savior on Dec. 26, 1947, and was baptized on April 18, 1948, and joined Vista Baptist Church. She was the Young Peoples and Adults Sunday School Teacher for many years.

Bonny graduated from Osceola High School in 1953. After graduation she worked at Shelby’s Dime Store and Herndon’s Grocery Store in Osceola and then as a legal secretary for 32 years.

One Sunday she was invited to the home of Paul Gardner and found the love of her life’s portrait sitting on the piano. She met him face to face at Vista Baptist Church in 1951. After a four-year courtship, they were married on Aug. 16, 1955. Bob always said you couldn’t forget your anniversary if it was on your own birthday and he never did forget. They celebrated almost 58 years together before God called Bob home on July 1, 2013. God blessed this happy union with two wonderful children, Jeanie Floyd and Lynn Gardner.

Bonny was preceded in death by her wonderful husband, Robert (Bob) Gardner; her parents, Wesley and Neva (Burrow) Wheeler; two sisters, Betty June Wheeler (infancy) and Artalee (Wheeler) Harris, and one brother, Thomas Wheeler.

She is survived by her daughter, Jeanie (Fred) Floyd; son, Lynn Gardner; grandchildren – Susan (Randy) Williams, Rachel (Jeremy) Rothmayer, Ben Gardner, Robert (Melissa) Floyd, Stacy (David) Rogers, Heidi (Matt) Aton and Heather (Trent) Berry; great-grandchildren – Cody Williams, Jay Rothmayer, Rylan Evans, Quinton Rogers, Allie, Sean, Kira and Emma Berry, Cole and Bo Aton; sister, Zada Brown; brother, Burliegh (Doris) Wheeler; sisters-in-law, Sharon Wheeler and Luella (Gardner) Meloy (Bill); and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors.

Services were held Friday, Sept. 9, in Sheldon-Goodrich Chapel, Osceola, with Greg Mangum officiating. Music was “Lilly of the Valley” and “Old Rugged Cross” with Richard Kiefer – vocalist and Mary Lu Hildebrand.

Casketbearers were Lynn Gardner, Ben Gardner, Randy Williams, Jeremy Rothmayer, Matt Aton and Bobby Burkhart. Honorary casektbearers were Dr. Wayne Morton, Larry Walters, Fred Floyd, Trent Berry, Robert Floyd and David Rogers. Interment was in Macedonia Cemetery, Osceola.