Nina Gardner Obituary

Our Beautiful Mom, Nina Beatrice Berry Gardner, returned home to her Heavenly Father after a life filled with faith, grit, service, and above all love. We cannot begin to summarize Mom's life and the gift she was to all of us, but we are going to try.

Mom was born at home on May 14, 1934, in Sarah, Tate County, Mississippi, to William Francis Berry and Connie Beatrice Frazier. She was the oldest of six children: Shirley, Dovie, Casper, Russell, and Carol. She didn’t grow up with much monetarily, but her stories always made her childhood sound rich in the ways that truly matter. She told many stories about playing on her grandma’s 80 acres with cousins who were their best friends and good ol’ Southern cooking. She often said that no extended family meal was complete without a wash bin full of banana pudding.

Nina developed a strong work ethic early in life. Summers were spent working in the cotton fields, earning just 3 to 5 cents a day. Her school years began in a one-room schoolhouse in Sarah, and she went on to graduate from Senatobia High School and Junior College. During this time, her family relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah. Encouraged by her father to pursue a college degree, Nina continued her studies at Brigham Young University, where she earned a composite degree in political science, social studies, and history. She was one of just three women to graduate in political science in 1957. While attending BYU and working at Hot Shoppes she met James D. Gardner. They married and had six children: James Mark, Connie, Vera, Karrie (Mike), Lisa, and Bryan (Kristin). Though they later divorced, our parents remained close friends until Dad’s passing in 2012.

Nina taught school for two years, worked for Marriott Corporation, and held several positions in the restaurant industry before concluding her career with a job at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Evaluation Unit of Micrographics for Genealogy where she retired from in 2003. She was one of the hardest workers we know, but her most important work was always at home and church. She served in many church callings—her favorite being in the Relief Society and Scouting program. She was particularly passionate and dedicated to doing her genealogy, she spent countless hours at the library and in the temple serving those who had gone before her.

She loved people fiercely and showed it in small ways: a quick visit, a thoughtful phone call, helping with errands and household chores, and delivering treats to anyone in need. She was constantly serving—quietly, and without expecting anything in return. Her life was one of love, service, and faith. While we’re heartbroken to say goodbye, we know she’s having a joyful reunion—with her baby Lisa, her parents, her siblings, and her grandchildren.

Nina was preceded in death by her parents Beatrice and Willie Frank Berry, siblings Carol, Dovie, Shirley, Casper, brother-in-law Noel Welch, her infant daughter Lisa, son-in-law, Steve Denton, infant granddaughter Christina, and grandson Joshua Thomas.

She is survived by her children, her brother Russell, brothers-in-law David Glines, Ken (Kenneth) Burt, multiple cousins, nieces, nephews, and a great posterity of grandchildren and great-grandchildren—each of whom she adores.

Services will be held at the Butler Hill Chapel 2695 E 7000 S Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121

Viewings: September 23, 2025, 6:00–8:00 PM September 24, 2025, 10:00–10:45 AM

Funeral: September 24, 2025 starting at 11:00 AM Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/97364017236

Internment: Memorial Mountain View Mortuary & Cemetery 3115 Bengal Blvd. Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the exceptional nurses and doctors who cared for Nina during the final two months of her life.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your local food bank or performing an act of service in her honor.

We love you, Mom. Thank you for everything. We’ll keep making and enjoying banana pudding and pecan pie.