Flora “Wanona” Mae Gardner, age 91, a resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at Hedrick Medical Center in Chillicothe, Missouri. Wanona was born to Merl George and Alta Mae (Cosby) Merryfield on August 28, 1932, in Utica, Missouri. She graduated from Utica High School. On February 24, 1951, Wanona married Ellsworth Gardner, Jr., in Chillicothe, Missouri, who survives her.
A member of Calvary Baptist Church, Wanona actively participated in various church groups. She taught Sunday School and worked in the Calvary Clothing Room for many years. Wanona was employed at Westlake’s Hardware for twenty years. An avid fan of cardinal birds, she also enjoyed hosting garage sales with her sisters and followed sports passionately, especially the Chiefs and Royals.
Wanona is survived by two daughters, Debbie Evans and her husband, Richard, of Utica, Missouri, and Susie Lindley and her husband, Bruce, of Chillicothe, Missouri; one daughter-in-law, Debbie Gardner, of Chillicothe, Missouri; ten grandchildren, Penny Braymer (Chad) of Parkville, Missouri, Timothy Evans of Utica, Missouri, Daniel Evans (Lindsey) of Holt, Missouri, Mathew Lindley (Jennifer) of Chillicothe, Missouri, Jonathan Lindley (Ashley) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Thomas Lavi (Sormeh) of Fremont, California, Ryan Gardner (DeAnn) of Chillicothe, Missouri, Aaron Gardner (Skylar) of Chillicothe, Missouri, Brett Gardner (Alexis) of Lenexa, Kansas, and Taylor Gardner of Lenexa, Kansas; fourteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; one sister, Wanda Long, of Chillicothe, Missouri; one sister-in-law, Helen Merryfield, of Grandview, Missouri; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Jeffry Alan Gardner; an infant brother; one infant grandchild; two brothers, Roy and Fred Merryfield; a brother-in-law, Nolan Long; and three sisters, Lura Peck (Dick), Juanita Ireland (Otis), and Donna Norris (Don).
Funeral services will be held at Calvary Baptist Church in Chillicothe, Missouri, on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. A visitation is scheduled at Lindley Funeral Home in Chillicothe, Missouri, on Friday, April 12, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friends may call at Lindley Funeral Home on Friday, April 12, 2024, from 12:00 noon until 7:00 p.m. Burial will take place at Utica Cemetery in Utica, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist Church and can be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, PO Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri, 64601.
