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MARY ERNESTINE Was born on Jan. 20, 1935 in Hutchinson, KS, to Ernest and Susan Zimmerman. She grew up in Windom, KS, and attended West Liberty Mennonite Church. She graduated from Goshen College in 1959 with a teaching degree. She moved to California and taught there until she married Guy Gardner on June 10, 1961. They were transferred with the Navy to Guam. They had their first daughter, Mary Lois, in Feb., 1962. They were transferred back to CA. Had their second daughter, Gayle, in June, 1964. During her married life, she lived in Guam, CA., Puerto Rico, Virginia, Mississippi, and New Mexico. In each of these places she served in the church and shared her faith in Christ Jesus. Mary fought and won several battles with cancer beginning in 1961, when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, 1973 throat cancer, 1984 throat and lung cancer, 2004 breast cancer, 2006 kidney cancer, and finally 2011 it metastasized. She went to be with her Lord and Savior on July 2, 2011, and won her fight with cancer. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Guy; her mother-in-law, Lois; her daughter, Mary Callahan - husband Harvey; her daughter, Gayle Allen - husband Robert; her grandchildren, Ezra Callahan - wife Ashley, Elizabeth Callahan, Jackie Allen, Kelsey Allen, Heather Allen, and Rachel Allen; a brother, Wayne Zimmerman - wife Marty; and two sisters, Erna Chittenden and Karen Zimmerman; a cousin, Lennette Bonnell. The service will be on Saturday, July 9, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. at Sandia Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sandia Baptist Church Building Fund or the American Cancer Society.
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