Naida Gillies Gardner

1915 ~ 2012
Our wonderful mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Naida Gillies Gardner, age 97, passed away on June 15, 2012.
Naida was born March 17, 1915 in Pinto, Washington County, Utah to Robert Moroni and Geneva Harrison Gillies. Four years later her family moved, by horse-drawn wagon to Newcastle, Iron County, where she grew up. She married Kumen Gardner, a cattle rancher, November 18, 1932. Naida was very active in the music community. She sang in numerous musical productions at the Branch Agricultural College, which later became Southern Utah University (SUU). She had lead roles in the opera Rigoletto and the musical The Student Prince. She also sang in a woman's trio sponsored by the American Legion, which won First Place in American Legion national competition in Los Angeles in 1950 and second place in the same competition in Miami, Florida in 1951. She loved learning, especially good literature, and was a member of the En Avante Literary Club for more than fifty years.
Naida served as a volunteer for the Utah Shakespeare Festival for over 35 years. She was an active member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers (DUP), and served as a docent at the DUP Museum. She also served as a Pink Lady at the Cedar City Hospital for many years. For her support of Southern Utah University, her community service, and her musical contributions she was inducted into the SUU Honor Society, receiving and Alumni Service Award, in 1999.
Naida was also an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served for years at the ward and stake level as a Primary Teacher, a leader in Young Women, a teacher and leader in relief Society, and as ward and stake choir director and ward and stake chorister. She served a mission in the Raleigh North Carolina Mission in 1988-89, and served for years as an ordinance worker in the St. George Temple.
Naida is survived by her children; Dayne (Elizabeth) Gardner of Fallbrook, CA, Eric (Marian) Gardner of Salt Lake City, UT, Sheila Rose of Cedar City, UT, Paul (Barbara) Gardner of Plantersville, TX and Neil (Anne Marie) Gardner of Cedar City, UT. Her sister Katherine Simpson of Las Vegas, NV, along with 20 wonderful grandchildren and 57 great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband Kumen. Her parents Robert Moroni and Geneva Gillies, brothers; Kenneth Gillies and D. Fred Gillies, and sisters; Frieda Butler, Hope Kibbie and Bonnie Jean Riggs.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 22, 2012 at 2:00 pm at the Cedar 9th Ward, 256 South 900 West in Cedar City, UT. A viewing will be held on Thursday, June 21, 2012 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Southern Utah Mortuary, 190 North 300 West in Cedar City. On Friday, June 22, 2012 the viewing will be at the Cedar 9th Ward form 12:30-1:30 p.m. Interment will be in the Cedar City Cemetery under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. Online condolences can be sent to www.sumortuary.com