Mary Louise Garner's Obituary
Mary Louise Kirkpatrick Garner, 89, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2004 at her residence following a brief illness.
A native of Grand Saline, Texas, Mary was the daughter of William Andrew Wallace and Clara Bell Rusk Kirkpatrick. She married Ellis Rade Garner in 1936 at Terrell, Texas, and they lived in Longview from the early years of their marriage. Mary was a very kind, loving, and benevolent person who had many friends. She was an active member of the Alpine Church of Christ in Longview and retired in 1984 after a long career with Sears, Roebuck & Co. as a collection specialist.
Mary Louise was a great great granddaughter of General Thomas J. Rusk, for whom Rusk County was named. Mary was proud of her Texas heritage and was a member of the American Business Women?s Association and a lively group of friends self-titled ?The Fun Bunch.?
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Ellis Rade Garner of Longview, and a daughter, Judith Diane Garner, a 1960 graduate of Longview High School and a deaf education administrator with the Dallas Independent School District.
Survivors include one sister, Virgil Kirkpatrick Roblinson of Henderson; two nieces and nephews-in-law, Roselyn & Fred Parsons of New London and Clarice & Larry Luce of Denton and two family friends, Nelda Davis of Arlington and Laura Knotts of Longview. She was especially proud of her three great nieces and one great nephew, Stephanie Parsons, Lori Luce, Julie Luce, and Matthew Parsons.
Funeral services will be conducted at the Alpine Church of Christ on Saturday, January 10th at 12:00 Noon followed by a brief graveside service at 3:30 PM at Woodside Cemetery in Grand Saline. There will be a family visitation at Rader Funeral Home in Longview from 6 to 8 PM Friday, January 9th.
Memorials may be sent in her memory to the Alpine Church of Christ or to the American Heart Association.
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