Carolyn A. Gard

April 28, 1938 - July 15, 2019

Carolyn A. Gard, 81 Kearney resident Carolyn Ann Gard, 81, of Kearney entered the gates of heaven Monday, July 15, 2019, at Good Samaritan Hospital, surrounded by family. Graveside services will be held 10:30 am Saturday, August 3, 2019 at the Riverside Cemetery in Gibbon. The Rev. Michael Evans will officiate. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O'Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services. Carolyn was born April 28th, 1938, on the Blanchard family farm southeast of Gibbon to Oliver and Virginia Blanchard. At age of 9 mo., Aunt Rose and Uncle Howard Ferguson lovingly took her in their home to share their lives. She attended Gibbon and Kearney educational systems and proudly received her GED from Kearney State College. She graduated from Queen Ann Beauty School and went on to own and operate the Silver Lady Beauty Salon for 10-years, which was built by the hands of her husband and boys. On March 5, 1954, she married the love of her life James Vern Gard and raised four children: David, Randy, Rusty, and Rebecca, which she states was her proudest achievement. Carolyn was a true humanitarian, teaching Sunday school, bible school, served as Cub Scout leader, instructor for den mothers for scout council, enjoyed fund raising, served as community council president, craft fair organizer and a member of her favorite club; the Pioneer Club Extension Club, due to the wonderful ladies who served as fellow members. She was in sales for five years until retirement, but her true passion was cooking for others. She was the head cook for two restaurants for five years and her motto was “loved to cook and bake, the more people and food the better, the kitchen was always open to one and all.” She was the caregiver to anyone that needed help. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, then Faith United Methodist Church. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and lover of all animals. Her dog Daisy was a very special girl and gardener assistant. She loved to bird watch, tend to Kirby Legg’s cows and calves, raise exotic chickens, decorate, work in her yard, grow flowers and listen to classical music. Her husband Jim always said “It’s not music if there’s no banjo!” Carolyn loved her family and always put them first. She was a dynamic woman who was respected, admired and loved. She was beautiful, caring with her advice, strong with her opinions, ambitious about life, generous with her time, supportive of dreams, tolerant of mistakes, empathetic of misfortunes, but most of all, she faithfully loved her husband for 57 years and successfully nurtured and raised four successful children with grace and ease. Survivors include her sons, David Gard and his partner Lorrie Foster, of Gibbon; Randy Gard and his wife Vicki, of Grand Island, Rusty Gard and his wife Decca of Fort Worth, Texas, and her daughter Rebecca Burns and her husband Todd, of College Station, Texas; 12 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; and 3 great-great grandchildren; and sister Sandra Iocca. Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband Jim; her parents; sister Sharon James; infant sister Joyce Blanchard; brother Gerald Blanchard; aunt Rose Ferguson; grandparents Sadie and Sox Stonebarger; and a daughter-in-law, Sharon Gard. Memorials are suggested to the family for designation. Go to www.osrfh.com to submit online condolences.