Mrs. Louise Gardenhire, after "fourscore and three" years, took wings and flew into Paradise on Monday morning, September 4, 2006 from Tulsa Regional Medical Center. Her parents, six brothers and sisters, three children, Linda Faye Jones, Frank Gardenhire, III and Amos Jones, Jr., preceded her in death.

A beautiful baby girl arrived in Muskogee, Oklahoma on July 8, 1923 from the loving union of Will and Minnie Victoria [Dean] Thompson. She was the sixth child in this family and they named her Lois Louise.

She received her education in Muskogee Public Schools, specifically Douglas Elementary and the Historic Manual Training High School, graduating with the Class of 1942.

Louise accepted Christ into her life at an early age at Dean's Chapel Baptist Church, where she was a faithful member and a very dedicated worker, especially with the Baptist Women's Auxillary. Her last Mission musical was on the second Sunday in June, which she began preparing for almost before the previous program. She was very excited and enthusiastic about her program and would check and double check to make sure it was a success. She planned everything in advance, including a back up plan, just in case there was a no-show or something unexpected happened and her guest were unable to attend.

Mrs. Gardenhire was lovingly called Louise, Miss Louise, Mamma Lou, Granny, Great-Granny, Aunt Lou, Big Lou or Mrs. G., by all who knew her.

She leaves to lament her passing and cherish her precious memory; her husband of 52 years, Frank E. Gardenhire, Jr., of the home in Muskogee; four children, Cheryl L. Chatman [Louis], Rhonda Jones Jamerson Jack [Stanley], Glen O. Jones [Shuree] and Everett P. Gardenhire [ Sherry], all of Muskogee; seventeen grandchildren; sixty-three great-grandchildren; her sisters-in-law, Beatrice Robinson and Viola Piggee, both of Muskogee; a special mention to Greta Davis, Quincyetta Love and Patricia Isom, for their devotion and help during her illness; along with a caravan of other relatives, her many friends that she regularly toalked to in Muskogee, California, Dallas, Texas, Kansas and Missouri. She will truly be missed by all of her family and everyone that knew her and came in contact with her.

The final tribute will be on Monday, September 11, 2006 at 11:00 A.M. in Dean's Chapel Baptist Church, 20th & Maryland Streets in Muskogee. The Pastor, Reverend Don Dumas, will officiate.

Burial will follow in the National Cemetery at Fort Gibson, Oklahoma at 2:00 P.M.

You may visit Mrs. Gardenhire, as she slumbers at the funeral home in Muskogee on Sunday from 1 PM to 6 PM.