Linda Gardner

(From Ozark Funeral Home)

Linda Gardner went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, with her devoted husband, her children, and her beloved dogs all by her side.

Linda Colleen Thomas was born November 5, 1940, in Powell, Missouri. She was the daughter of Matha (Waynie) & Elmer (Slim) Thomas. She was a graduate of Rocky Comfort High School and attended nursing school at St. John in Joplin, and only stopping just short of finishing her nursing degree to marry the love of her life, Bill, on June 11, 1960. This beautiful union resulted in the birth of three children, to whom she was a loving and devoted mama. 

Bill & Linda made their home in Oak Grove, MO for many years before moving to Arizona where their son and his family live. They spent over a decade in Arizona where Linda continued her career in healthcare before retiring in 2007. She & Bill moved back to build a home on their farm in Pineville, MO, where they spent some of their happiest times of their lives. The time spent in their porch swing together, watching their hay being cut & baled, and just watching the world go by was one of their favorite pastimes. She also loved riding through the hills in their gator & especially loved spending time on the river with her loved ones. 

Linda was also an avid quilter, and spent countless hours creating beautiful things. She absolutely delighted in her trips to antique malls & flea markets and loved all of the things she collected. She had quite an eye for finding valuable things and loved to find a bargain. Linda was probably the happiest though when she was on her grasshopper mower, working on her gorgeous tan & not leaving one blade of grass uncut on the farm so loved so much. She was a huge animal lover, & her beloved Boston Terriers were always by their mamas side, even at the very end of her beautiful life. She made the best tater salad, cornbread dressing, coleslaw, cukes & onions, & homemade cinnamon rolls, & loved spoiling her kids when they came to visit with their favorites.

Linda was also a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church & had a very strong faith. 

Linda is survived by her devoted loving husband of 65 years, Bill, children Lisa Schlichting (Mike), of Oak Grove, MO, Brian Gardner (Kim), of Tucson, AZ, & Alanna Caldarella (Bryan), of Pineville, MO, grandchildren Jimmy Schlichtiing (Jessica), of Oak Grove, MO, Kaitlyn Schade (Evan), of Kansas City MO, Troy Gardner, Kansas City, MO, Callen Caldarella (Saige), of Ten Sleep, WY, & Corinne Caldarella (Logan), of Kansas City, MO, She also leaves behind 5 great “grands”, Jocelyn, Joelle, Jillian, Jordan, & Jaycie, her sister Jan, Cedar Rapids, IA, her “adopted” kids Pat & Sue Greisen, other friends she considered family, as well as her faithful Boston Terriers, Rocky and Charlie. She was proceeded in death by her parents, Matha (Waynie) and Elmer (Slim) Thomas. Linda loved her family and was so proud of all of them & never failed to tell them so.

A visitation will be held Friday, November 21st, from 12:30pm-1:45pm at Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, MO, with graveside services following at 2pm. at Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made in her name to I’m Your Huckleberry Rescue in Pineville MO. Because of mom’s love for animals, this would be exactly what she would want.