Barbara Shurtliff Gardner, widow of Wilford Butler Gardner and daughter of Myrtle Ballard and D. Ray Shurtliff, passed away peacefully April 23, 2016, in her home of 64 years. This amazing 96-year-old woman was a lifelong resident of Salt Lake City and a fully participating member of the LDS church. She wanted people to know she loved life and felt privileged to have had all of her experiences, joyful and sorrowful.
Barbara became well acquainted with grief after the early death of her beloved husband; both were 36 years old. Nonetheless she rejoiced in her six children and in her love of the gospel, music, photography, travel, books, and problem-solving. At the age of 15, Barbara began playing the marimba and vibraphone, performing extensively throughout her life, and quit only when she could no longer stand in front of her instrument. She belonged to camera clubs, winning awards for her photography. While traveling, whether with children or by herself, she was fearless. Zipping across states in her El Camino on buying trips and "walk-abouts" was common for her. The highlight of her travel was touring China at the age of 80. Her habits of voracious and inquisitive reading lead her to collect 23,000 books and pamphlets, primarily LDS church history and Western Americana. Among the first residents at the mouth of Emigration Canyon, she and her family were later instrumental in the development of the Monument Park subdivisions.
Barbara's problem-solving skills came to the forefront as she raised six children, ages 9 months to 14 years, following the sudden death of their father. Barbara felt fervently that she could not have raised her family without the sustaining help of her Father in Heaven and her parents. Design and Décor, a decorating business she and her sister began in 1958, was a primary solution to financial needs. After her sister, Virginia, moved to Texas, Barbara focused her business on lighting, and in 1965 founded Alfa Lite, which flourished into a renowned specialty lighting and lampshade business. Barbara loved being a business woman, both because she was able to provide employment for others and because she could provide a service to the community, using her ingenuity daily to provide truly custom, one of a kind lighting for customers. This woman, who lived life to its fullest, loved her many family members and learned from anything that came her way, will be deeply missed. We rejoice that she has blessed many with her love, and most especially that she has been reunited with the love of her life after 60 years.
She was preceded in death by her siblings, Richard (Helen) and Wendell Shurtliff and Virginia (Sanfred) Elieson. And Barbara is survived by her children Gaylord (Lynell Luke) Gardner of Logan, Gloria Gardner Murdock of Salt Lake City, Wilford (Mary Jo Richardson) Gardner of College Station, Texas, Wendell (Susan Clary) Gardner of Bellevue, Washington, Barbara Gardner (Joseph) Muir of Washington, DC, and Blair (Patricia Cone) Gardner of Centerville. Also 27 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the General Missionary Fund or The Utah Opera.
Services: Monday May 2nd at Noon: Monument Park Stake Center, 1320 So. Wasatch Dr. Viewings: Sunday May 1st 4:30-6:30pm Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 E. 1300 South and 10:20-11:30am Monday before the services.
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