Geneva Amelia Gardner

Geneva A. Gardner, 94, died at her Surfside Estates residence near Oysterville, WA, on January 18, 2011. The daughter of Grover Cleveland and Mabel (Sappington) Price she was born September 1, 1916 in Council Hill, Oklahoma. There she and her siblings grew up on the family farm until the depression years when the family moved to the fertile Yakima valley of Washington. Geneva settled in Sunnyside, Washington where she met and married Hal Gardner on May 11, 1941. She and her husband moved to Bremerton, Washington, where they raised their two daughters, Gae and Joi. Geneva became a nurse and worked at Harrison Memorial Hospital in Bremerton until her husband's retirement as Assistant Fire Chief when they moved to Olympia, Washington. Geneva loved going to the ocean beaches where she and Hal spent as much time as possible until her husband retired from being Director of Vocational Fire Training for the State of Washington. They moved to their beach property in Surfside Estates near Oysterville, Washington and built their retirement home in which they have lived for over thirty years. Once the house was completed, they began traveling in their motor home throughout the United States for several years. During their travels they became friends with many couples but none as dear as their good friends Helen and Hank Wertz of Magalia, California. Geneva loved organic gardening. They built a small green house and she planted a garden every year until her passing. She loved her daily walks to the beach, the clean sea air and the vitality that came with it. The grandchildren of Geneva and Hal have fond memories of their many summer camping trips, and week long stays at their ocean home with their grandparents. A walk to the beach with Grandma was always in order. Geneva was the matriarch of her family. She is survived by her husband Hal; daughter Joi and her husband Curt Raihala of Camas, Washington; grandchildren Craig Raihala, Laurie and husband Mark Niskanen, Mark Raihala and Stacey Dierickx (loved one of Mark Raihala), and Adam Federman and wife Kimberly; and six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter Gae Federman Bishop. Private family services to be held at a later date. Donations may be made to the Peninsula Senior Center or the charity of your choice in care of Penttila's Chapel by The Sea, PO Box 417, Long Beach, WA 98631. Her guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.