Frankie Dee Moore

Notes:

Sabine County Reporter Online
Posted: Thursday, October 18, 2012 9:44 am
Updated: 9:45 am, Thu Oct 18, 2012
Also published in the The Sabine County Reporter print edition
October 24, 2012, page 10A

Frankie Dee Gardner, 82, died at her residence in Lake Jackson on Friday, October 12, 2012.

Frankie, the only child of Horace and Fern Gomer Moore, was born in her grandparents Josh and Luthenia Gomer's home in Sabinetown, near Low's Creek, on January 23, 1930. She grew up in Beaumont where she graduated from Beaumont High School in 1947 and in 1949 from Lamar Junior College where she was a member of Phi Theta Kappa. While there, she was active in the Speech Dept,and was a member of the Debate Team, which won 1st place in a series of debates with other Junior Colleges of Texas. In 1951, she graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in English and Speech from Southern Nazarene University, where she was a member of Phi Delta Lambda, a national honor society. Frankie loved poetry, and enjoyed giving poetic readings.

She married John Gardner in 1950, and in 1953 moved to Lake Jackson when John was employed at Dow Chemical. She was active in the Freeport Church of the Nazarene, serving as Teen Sunday School teacher until 1971 when she was involved in organizing the Lake Jackson Church of the Nazarene where she became a charter member. She served the church in various capacities: S.S.teacher, Children's Director, VBS Director, Missionary president, teen Bible Quiz director, church board member, and church historian. On many occasions, Frankie served as narrator for Christmas and Easter cantatas.

Frankie worked many years as a substitute teacher at Lake Jackson Intermediate School.

She was a charter member of the James Frederick Gomer Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Hemphill. She was a direct descendent of J.F. Gomer and Isaac Low, who settled on Low's Creek a decade before Texas became a republic. She was preceded in death by her parents and a daughter-in-law, Sandi. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, John of Lake Jackson; four children, Jeryl Gardner (and Anita) of Zephyr Cove, NV, Randy Gardner of Sabinetown, TX, GayLynn Gardner of Lake Jackson and Dr. Kevin Gardner (and Hilary) of Waco; six grandchildren, Lenny Gardner of Houston, Hunter Gardner (and Eve) of Austin, Cassidy Gardner (and Amber), of Humble, TX, Terry Nevil of Lexington, KY, Crystal Nevil of Danville, KY, and Graham Gardner of Waco; great-grandchildren, Lilah Gardner of Humble, and Sylas Gardner of Austin. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be at Cornerstone Church of the Nazarene, 3007 Hiway 332 in Lake Jackson on Thursday at 10:30am. On Friday at 10:00am, there will be visitation at Starr Funeral Home in Hemphill, followed by graveside service and interment at 12:30pm. Pallbearers at Harper Chapel Cemetery will be the Grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Frankie Gardner Prayer Garden at Cornerstone Church, 3007 Hiway 332, Lake Jackson, TX 77566.