Marie Gardner Wong Obituary

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