Ethel Lewis (Reese) Gardner

It is with sadness that we announce the death of Ethel Lewis Gardner on November 14, 2023.

Ethel was born on August 31, 1922, the youngest of five children to Llewelyn and Anne Reese in the Wood River district, east of Ponoka. She grew up on the farm and attended Magic School.

In 1946 she married Alan Lewis, a farmer in the Bobtail district north east of Ponoka, and they raised three boys, Blaine, Ken and Garnet.

Ethel was especially proud of her Welsh heritage, and loved music. She enjoyed her years working at Link Hardware, and was active in the community with volunteering for various causes. She was always busy, whether it was singing in the church choir, “coffee clatch” friends, the church community, or gardening and tending to her beautiful roses. She was dedicated to her family and was a loving mother and cherished Nain to her grandchildren. Her favourite thing was to be surrounded by her family. 

Later in life she married John Gardner and they lived many happy years enjoying mutual hobbies, friends, and family and travelling until John’s passing in 2000.

Ethel stayed active well into her 90's and was independent until age 98. She was a beautiful soul who loved us all, just as we loved her, and though we will miss her always, we take great comfort in reflecting on her long, happy life.

Ethel was predeceased by her parents; her sisters Margaret (Cliff) Wright, Annie (Hugh) Roberts, Gwen (Richard) Avison; her brother Sonny; her husband John Gardner; her grandson Wyatt Lewis; and her great-grandson Tristan Lewis.

She is survived by her sons Blaine (Heather) Lewis, Ken (Marilyn) Lewis, and Garnet (Angie) Lewis; her grandchildren Erin (Lorne), Craig Lewis, Jackie Koehn, Suzanne Lewis (Nathan), Leigh Swihart (Brin), James Carmichael, and Blake Lewis (Karoline); her seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; as well as extended family and friends.

Our deepest thanks to the wonderful staff at Northcott Care Centre, who provided excellent care for Ethel with such dedication and kindness; and to Dr. Dutoit who treated Ethel with such competence and compassion.  

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, November 23,  2023 at 1:00 p.m. at the Ponoka Funeral Home with a reception to follow at St. Mary’s Anglican Church Hall.        

Donations in Ethel’s name are gratefully accepted to Ponoka Wheelchair Van Society.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ethel Lewis (Reese) Gardner, please visit our floral store.