Joyce L. (Parris) Gardner, 63, of Marie Drive, Coventry, RI, passed away on Friday, July 8, 2016 at Kent Hospital in Warwick.
She was the wife of Geoffrey Gardner.
Born in Perrysburg, OH on February 14, 1953, she was the daughter of the late Norman D. and Illa-Mae (Brossia) Parris.
She was a graduate of Northwood High School in Ohio and attended Stutsenbury Business School and had worked in Orlando, FL as an intern at Disney when they were in the process of building the park. She was a member of the Artillery Company of Newport, the Audubon Society of RI, Mystic Seaport Association, Western RI Historical Society, a den leader in the Cub Scouts of America, a historian of the Civil War. She enjoyed gardening and quilting and was a ceramic teacher at her home for many years. She was an avid fan of the New England Patriots and an avid bird watcher.
In addition to her husband, she leaves four children, Rafiel T. Parris of West Warwick, RI, Charles A. Gardner and his wife Lacey (Mahue) Gardner of Warwick, RI, Carmen A. Lambert and her husband, Brian, of Warwick, RI, and Laura E. Gardner of Coventry, RI; her grandchildren, Chasity Johnson and Alyssa Johnson of Chatterguay, NY, Joseph Gardner, also of Chatterguay, NY, Michael Boisvert of Warwick, RI, Jared Melfi, Ryan Melfi and Ray Clifton, all of Coventry, RI, and Carrie Ann Clark of Taunton, MA; and a great-grandson, Matthew Tansey III.
Calling hours are Tuesday, July 12, 2016 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. in Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport, RI.
Her funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home.
Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Audubon Society of RI, 12 Sanderson Rd, Smithfield, RI 02917.