Jean E. (Eagleton) Gardner

Jean E. Gardner passed peacefully into heaven on Sunday morning, January 15, 2017 at Hospice of the Valley, Hospice House, in Poland.

She was born on March 23, 1931 in Youngstown, OH, the daughter of Dorothy Ellen and George William Eagleton. She was the eldest of three children. She grew up in the Brownlee Woods area and attended Paul C. Bunn Elementary School and later graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, class of 1949. She was a "candy striper" for the Youngstown Hospital Association while in high school. She furthered her education after high school and attended the Youngstown Hospital School of Nursing where she graduated as an RN, class of 1955. She was a member of the ONA District #3 on Mahoning Ave., Youngstown.

She married the love of her life, Robert V. Gardner, on June 16, 1956 and they made their home in Youngstown, later moving to Boardman. She worked at Southside Hospital from 1955 through 1987, until an accident prevented her from working any longer. She cherished her nursing career and fellow nurses, her family, and her animals. She worked as a float nurse for much of her career but preferred pediatrics and intensive care.

Later in life she took up running as a hobby and ran the Youngstown Peace Race Fun Run with her granddaughter Brittany at age 72. She loved sports throughout her life and was known as a "tomboy" participating in many of them herself. She had a tender heart for animals, picking up and homing many strays and even rescuing one of her eventual pet dogs after being thrown from a moving car in Youngstown. She was a life-long member of Faith Community Covenant Church formerly Bethlehem United Church of Christ, where she served on the kitchen committee and was a volunteer for Angels for Animals of Youngstown.

Jean leaves to cherish her memory, her children, Kim E. (Jim) West of Canfield, with whom she made her home these past 6 years, and Robert B. (Joanne) Gardner of Poland. She had 7 grandchildren, Brittany Nicole (Matthew) Kominak of Boardman, Brenton (Bethany) Beck of Austintown, Sarah McNally of Columbus, Garrett Gardner of Poland, Jaclyn (Ryan) Grissett of Holly Springs, N. C, Randee (Steve) Graham of Boardman, and Brooke (CJ) Brink of Damascus. Jean had 13 great grandchildren, Brynn Kominak, Micah and Levi Beck, Elise, Ethan, and Adlee Grissett, Vanessa, Jasmine, Rocky, Jackson, and Dean Graham, Caden West and Tyler Brink. She also had many nieces and nephews that she loved with all her heart, Pam, Brian, David, Denise, Danielle, TJ, Arick and Matthew. Finally, Jean leaves her very dear friend Bill Luth who brought much joy to her life in recent years.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert; an infant son, Jeffrey; brother, William Eagleton; sister-in-law, Florence Eagleton; and nephew, Brian Eagleton; sister, Sally Hammar; and brother-in-law, Ernest Hammar; and brother-in-law, Charles Gardner.

Family visitation is scheduled at Faith Community Covenant Church on Saturday January 28, 2017 from 1-3 P.M. A memorial Service will be held at the church on Sunday January 29, 2017 at 2 P.M. Dinner to follow at the church Fellowship Hall.

The family would like to thank Hospice of the Valley for the kind and compassionate care they provided in Jean’s final months, and her nurses Leslie, and Janet. Also, Hospice House nurses Natalie, Janette, Amanda, Tammie, Paul and Laura.

Jean's family requests that any gifts please take the form of contributions to Hospice of the Valley, 5190 Market Street, Boardman, OH 44512 or Angels for Animals, 4750 State Route 165, Canfield, OH 44406.