Marie
Gardner Wong of Rockwall, Texas was born in Phoenix, Arizona September
3, 1939 to the late Leroy and Hazel Nickles Gardner. She passed away
peacefully on February 24, 2020 at the age of 80. Marie started her
wonderful life in Arizona the day that WW II began, and as Choctaw
tribal members the Gardner family along with her 7 siblings moved back
to their Indian Allotment in Matoy, Oklahoma. in 1943.
She
attended school in Bokchito Oklahoma and eventually crossed the Red
River to marry Charles Doyle Hodge in Gainesville, Texas because they
were too young to marry in Oklahoma. She settled down to start a family
in Dallas, Texas giving birth to Charles Dean Hodge, Mary Candace Hodge,
and Jefferson Gardner Hodge. “Rie” as her children nicknamed her,
raised her kids with love and understanding, respect for individuality,
and a lot of hard labor. While performing her tasks as a mother and
wife, she somehow found time to earn a master’s degree in English from
North Texas State University, an achievement worthy of respect and
admiration.
All the while Marie engaged her children in story
time, music lessons, Sunday school and Church activities, visits to the
library, establishing savings accounts, scouting, joke telling, picnics
and nature walks, and encouraging the pursuit of education. She met
every need to the best of her ability as a young mother. To her family
and community Rie has been a counselor, nurturer, advisor, sounding
board, teacher, baker and meal provider, seamstress, housekeeper, healer
of ills, tester of wit and always loved her offspring and family
without fail. Rie’s wry sense of humor was something that took many by
surprise, not knowing whether she was serious or joking but always sure
to leave you smiling.
Marie married her second husband, the
late Ronald Floyd Wong of Hanalei, Kauai Hawaii. Ronnie supported her
role to create a loving home in the islands where her children, family
and guests were always welcome. She was much loved and respected by her
new family and friends in Honolulu and continued with her passion for
teaching in the Hawaii state school system. She embraced the Aloha
spirit and enriched all those who knew her with an open heart and
genuine smile. After some time, Marie and Ronnie moved to Texas and
eventually settled in Mena, Arkansas. After Ronnie’s passing, she
settled in Rockwall, Texas where she spent the final days of her
extraordinary life.
There is no way to completely describe all
the amazing experiences and loving memories she contributed to all of
our lives during the 80 years she spent with us. All of her family,
friends, acquaintances, fellow church members and students can tell a
different story of how she has impacted our lives. For 35 years as an
educator in English, Spanish and English as a Second Language so many
have been influenced by her unique teaching style and skills. Marie’s
creativity, self-sacrifice, dependability, passion for education and
spirituality are attributes she will bring to her place in heaven.
Indeed, she has been a “good and faithful servant” and shall receive all
the accolades of “A life well done” by our Maker.
As Marie
passes on to life everlasting, we will always celebrate her magnificent
achievements while she was here with us. May God bless her precious soul
as she enters the glorious and eternal Kingdom of our Lord Jesus
Christ. When you remember Marie, you are carrying her spirit as a legacy
to be cherished forever.
Marie Gardner Wong was a faithful
member of Holy Trinity by the Lake – Episcopal Church. She is survived
by her children: Charles Dean Hodge and wife Rachel of Rowlett, TX, Mary
Candace Hodge of Lavon, TX, and Jefferson Hodge of The Woodlands, TX;
siblings: Nancy Kegley of Virginia, Sam Gardner and wife Cathy of Los
Alamos, NM, and M.L. Gardner of St. Louis, MO; grandchildren: James Dean
Hodge, Morgan Brittany Hodge, Christopher Michael Caldwell and Curtis
Alan Hammonds. She was preceded in death by her parents Leroy and Hazel
Nickles Gardner, her husband Ronald Floyd Wong, and four siblings;
Charles “PK” Gardner, Joan Held, Jesse Greenwood Gardner and John Calvin
Gardner.
The family will hold private services in Matoy, OK.
For details contact Charles Hodge at (469) 222-3423 or [email protected]
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations in Marie’s memory to:
The American Heart Association https://www2.heart.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=donatenow_legacy&s_src=pmxsem19_legacy&gclid=CjwKCAiA7t3yBRADEiwA4GFlI88EBueTTrKX9ZM2mmPl8IfMwf5mQ4CD_wmCfO-8DUxnTyBeA4zVDxoCgvUQAvD_BwE
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
https://alzfdn.org/support-us/donate/?gclid=CjwKCAiA7t3yBRADEiwA4GFlI0srxcnjFLk4hKnUtl0NO3eOJkXWJblN0cxVflianLMYu2MO8LbjPhoCskQQAvD_BwE
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Marie Gardner Wong Obituary
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