St. George, Utah – Lenore Sparks Gardner, 104, returned to her Heavenly Father on July 18, 2023. She was born March 18, 1919, in Dingle, Idaho to George H. Sparks and Maida Oakey. She was the fourth of eight children.

Lenore had a good life. She grew up on a farm which later was turned into a dairy. Some of her favorite memories were of feeding the calves, going into town with her dad to deliver milk and chickens and getting ice cream, selling vegetables door to door with her siblings and Grandpa Oakey's songs.

Lenore served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1940. She spent 22 months in Eastern Canada. While on her mission she met Owen Gardner.

After her mission she went to live in Salt Lake City, Utah. One night, after the war was over, she and a friend were on their way to the movies when she noticed a soldier standing nearby. She recognized Owen and he joined them at the movies. He walked her home afterword.

Lenore and Owen were married February 20, 1947, in the Salt Lake Temple. They lived in Delta, Utah on a farm for 52 years and raised two children, Sydney and Stephen. After selling the farm they moved to St. George, Utah.

Lenore served in her community in many ways including serving on the State Fair Board and as director of the Millard County Fair Board. She liked to quilt, crochet, and do needlepoint. She also liked to travel.

Lenore is preceded in death by her husband, Owen; her sisters: Lena, Estelle, and Pearl; her brothers: Alfred, George, and George Calvin "Bud"; her daughter, Sydney; and grandson, Trent. She is survived by her son, Stephen; granddaughters: Jennifer (Bradley) Tame, Mandy Gardner, Kendra (Kenneth) Young, Meghan (Eric) Dazley and Phaedra Hawn; grandsons: Cody Gardner and Wade (Jennifer) Gardner; eight great-granddaughters; nine great-grandsons; two great-great-granddaughters; and two great- great-grandsons.

A visitation will be held in St. George, Utah on Friday, July 21, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. in the Delta City Cemetery, Delta, Utah.