Greer, South Carolina

Jonda Louise Gardner was born on July 27, 1932, in Tucson, Arizona. During her high school years, her family moved from Tucson to Safford, where she attended Safford High School and Eastern Arizona College. It was while she was in high school that she met the love of her life, Douglas Gardner. They married on October 28, 1950, and made their residence on the Gardner family farm in the tiny, rural farming community of San Jose.

Being a farmer's wife was an unlikely fate for Jonda, who had received training as a young girl in piano, voice, drama, and ballet. But on the farm, she sought and found many opportunities to display her love of the finer arts. The Gardner household was always filled with piano music and the lively sound of the four melodic family voices singing everything from show tunes to sacred hymns. She frequently provided piano accompaniment for Douglas at weddings and funerals, and they often sang together at such events. For a time, she was the "Story Lady" on the small, rural radio station in Safford, where she read children's stories and accompanied her young children, Perri and Jonny, as they sang children's songs on their live radio show. She was active in the Safford Woman's Club, and led a Girl Scout Troop, teaching the young ladies – among other things – ballet.

She was well into her sixties when she decided to take an art class at the local community college and learned – to no one's surprise – that she was an artist. The Gardner home then became her private gallery, where her portraits, landscapes, and most importantly, her florals made an impressive display. And anyone who visited her home in Safford knew unquestioningly that she had a fondness for the color purple.

In 2013, after 62 years of marriage, she lost her husband, Douglas, to a hard-fought battle with leukemia, and then in 2019 she suffered a debilitating back injury. The family convinced her to embark on a new adventure, and travel to South Carolina to be near family there during her convalescence. However, she never recovered a level of health that allowed her to return home to Safford, and on February 2, 2024, she fell victim to exhaustion from her 91 years of full, active life, and passed away quietly and peacefully in her sleep.

Jonda was a life-long member of the Church of Christ. During most of her adult life she was an avid Bible Class and Sunday School teacher at the Safford Church of Christ, and while she lived in South Carolina, she was a member of the Taylors Church of Christ.

Jonda is preceded in death by her parents, Robbie Nell and John F. Johnson, and a brother, Jim C. Johnson. She is survived by her daughter, Perri Larson, of Alpine, Arizona, her son, Jon Gardner, of Lyman, South Carolina, grandchildren DeeAnn Carter, Mark Larson, Matthew Larson, Jaime Mullins, Evan Gardner, and Nicolas Gardner, 14 great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, and a brother, Randy Johnson, of Safford.

Service arrangements are still being planned and will likely be held in South Carolina as well as Arizona. Details will be announced later.

Please sign the guestbook and share a word of encouragement for the Gardner family.

The Gardner family is being cared for by Sullivan Bros. Mortuary Inc. and Cremation Centers of South Carolina.