Maude McKenzie Gardner, 91, of Maryville, died Tuesday, March 12.

She was born to the late Jerome and Bertie McKenzie, on Sept. 28, 1921, in Decatur. Maude married Walter Gardner in 1945, and they lived together in Oak Ridge for 50 years, before relocating to Maryville.

Maude’s working career began at an early age as a school teacher to all grades of a one-room school near the Ten Mile community. She then became assistant to the Decatur postmaster. After moving to Oak Ridge, she was a guardette and calutron operator at the Y-12 facility, then worked at various local retail positions, where she got to know and love many of the locals.

She was an expert seamstress and homemaker. She was also a dedicated Red Cross volunteer, donating her time to help with the needs of our wartime soldiers. Maude was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. [Read more…]