Betty Ann Gardner, 92, of Sun Lakes, AZ, formerly of Mesa, AZ, passed away peacefully on November 18, 2025 due to complications of a fall in early September while living independently in her beautiful Sun Lakes home.
Betty, the daughter of J. Fred and Georgia Green, was born on April 9, 1933 in Bristol, Virginia and grew up in Tennessee. In 1956 she earned a BA in Music Education from Western Kentucky University. While at WKU, she met and married Roy Gardner, a handsome US Marine veteran from Louisville, KY. He preceded her in death in 1979. In 2005 she married Frank Tuzzolino, who also preceded her in death after 10 years of marriage.
Survivors include one son, Kevin Gardner (Meg) of Tempe, four grandchildren; Taylor Alexander Carruthers and Mia Carruthers (Curtis Roush), both of Austin TX, Jordan Gardner (Samantha) and Cameron Gardner, both of Tempe, AZ, one step-granddaughter; Jordyn Tinsley of Mesa, AZ, and one great-grandson, Logan Gardner, also of Tempe. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Sarah Williams and Julie Miller, two husbands, and daughter, Renee Carruthers.
In addition to raising her family, Betty taught elementary school music, and later, kindergarten for over 20 years, retiring from teaching in Mesa Public Schools in 1995. Betty loved her family and friends, traveling to new places, was active in several clubs in Sun Lakes (Italian club, Democratic club, Reiki group), and her Unity church. She loved cooking and sipping wine with her friends and family. She loved her vegetable garden, flowers, and many citrus trees. She was always conscious of nutrition and healthy eating, earning her the name "grandma vitamin" with her grandkids. She is lovingly remembered by her family for living as a perfect example of a moral, warm and caring woman, generous with both her time and resources, and for unconditionally loving and spending unforgettable quality time with her family.
A service to celebrate the life of Betty will be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Betty's favorite charity, Matthew's Crossing Food Bank in Chandler, AZ, or Unity Church of Sun Lakes.
Betty, the daughter of J. Fred and Georgia Green, was born on April 9, 1933 in Bristol, Virginia and grew up in Tennessee. In 1956 she earned a BA in Music Education from Western Kentucky University. While at WKU, she met and married Roy Gardner, a handsome US Marine veteran from Louisville, KY. He preceded her in death in 1979. In 2005 she married Frank Tuzzolino, who also preceded her in death after 10 years of marriage.
Survivors include one son, Kevin Gardner (Meg) of Tempe, four grandchildren; Taylor Alexander Carruthers and Mia Carruthers (Curtis Roush), both of Austin TX, Jordan Gardner (Samantha) and Cameron Gardner, both of Tempe, AZ, one step-granddaughter; Jordyn Tinsley of Mesa, AZ, and one great-grandson, Logan Gardner, also of Tempe. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Sarah Williams and Julie Miller, two husbands, and daughter, Renee Carruthers.
In addition to raising her family, Betty taught elementary school music, and later, kindergarten for over 20 years, retiring from teaching in Mesa Public Schools in 1995. Betty loved her family and friends, traveling to new places, was active in several clubs in Sun Lakes (Italian club, Democratic club, Reiki group), and her Unity church. She loved cooking and sipping wine with her friends and family. She loved her vegetable garden, flowers, and many citrus trees. She was always conscious of nutrition and healthy eating, earning her the name "grandma vitamin" with her grandkids. She is lovingly remembered by her family for living as a perfect example of a moral, warm and caring woman, generous with both her time and resources, and for unconditionally loving and spending unforgettable quality time with her family.
A service to celebrate the life of Betty will be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Betty's favorite charity, Matthew's Crossing Food Bank in Chandler, AZ, or Unity Church of Sun Lakes.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Betty Gardner Tuzzolino, please visit our flower store.
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