Carol Lee (Matthews) Gardner

Carol Lee Gardner, 77, of Ruffsdale, passed peacefully and went to be with the Lord on Monday, October 3, 2022.  She was born on May 29, 1945, daughter of the late Harold and Madeline (Trimbeth) Matthews, Sr.  Carol loved life and was truly an amazing wife, mom and grandmother.  Carol did more than most women wouldn’t dream to do.  She was a teacher for more than 30 years, beginning at Yough School District and retiring from McKeesport School District.  She had a challenging career teaching special education and socially emotionally disturbed children.  She loved teaching and many of her students thought of Carol as family, many times calling her “Mom”.  She went above and beyond to ensure her students received the care and education they needed to become functional adults, along with showing her students what it feels like to be loved.  Along with teaching, she worked alongside her husband for 40 plus years doing painting on the side.  Carol was not one that was afraid of much of anything.  She would help her husband set up 40-foot ladders, many times climbing to the top to perform the job at hand.  Their work can even be seen in the funeral home where she is being laid to rest.  As a mom, Carol was like a best friend to grow up with.  She rode quads and motorcycles right alongside her children, always pushing to be the fastest.  She loved to race any motorized vehicle she was driving or riding.  She also had a love for horses.  She broke her own horse which anyone that knows horses understands how challenging that can be.  As a young mother many times she rode her children to kindergarten on her horse or her bicycle.  Carol was also a great friend to many people.  She was always there to listen, laugh, or offer help when someone was in need.  She will be missed by all that knew her.  Carol was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Scottdale.  Surviving are her husband, Arthur Herman Gardner; Jr.: sons, Matthew A. Gardner and wife Rachel, and Mark A. Gardner and wife Heather; grandchildren, Madeline, Mason and Bradley; a brother, Harold Matthews Jr. and wife, June; and nieces and nephews.  Friends will be received 2-8 pm Thursday at the J. William McCauley Jr. Funeral Home, 901 Vine Street, West Newton, where funeral services will be held at 10 am Friday.  Officiating the service will be Pastor Bob Nagy and Pastor Ron Anderson.  Interment will follow in Green Ridge Memorial Park, Connellsville.  Condolences may be left at http:/www.mccauleyfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carol Lee (Matthews) Gardner, please visit our floral store.