The following obituaries appeared in the March 25, 2020 edition of the Star Valley Independent.
For more area obituaries please visit Schwab Mortuary.
Dr. Harold “Hank” Gardner, Physician-entrepreneur, professor, author and philanthropist, died peacefully at his winter home in Los Angeles. He was 82 years old. Born February 9, 1938 in Grover, Wyoming to educator parents, Lorean and B. Delos Gardner, he was the fifth of eight children. He attended Star Valley High School where he was an award winning thespian and an all-state football and basketball player. In 1956, he was admitted to the University of Wyoming on both academic and athletic scholarships. He played point guard on the Wyoming Cowboys’ 1957-58 team, which advanced to the NCAA tournament.
He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southern Australia Mission.
He was admitted to the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry where he graduated with honors and a degree in medicine in 1965. In 1967, he was drafted by the United States Army and spent a year in Vietnam serving as a medical officer where he was awarded the bronze star.
Upon, returning home from the army, Dr. Gardner began what would be a long and illustrious career in both medicine and business. His time in Vietnam and Australia, were both instrumental in helping him formulate his individuated thinking and skills as a leader who was unafraid to question and make changes to a broad range of social and economic issues. Shaped by his experiences, he believed strongly that “It was more important to understand the person with the illness than the illness the person has.” Following his post–doctoral work in gastroenterology and internal medicine in 1971, he was a pioneer in the managed care and HMO movement, starting and running the nations’ first HMO hospitals in New York and then Detroit Michigan.
He held academic appointments at the University of Rochester, Wayne State University and Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York and in his later years, he was an adjunct professor in the University of Wyoming School of Business and Health.
He was a generous supporter of his alma maters, University of Wyoming and the University of Rochester and he always rooted for and supported his Cowboy’s basketball team.
Hank was an avid outdoorsman and loved to camp out at Greys River, ski, golf and fly fish. He loved travel and bringing his family together.
Hank is survived by his two daughters and their spouses; Deirdra and Jason DiNapoli, Kimberly and Michael Mulcahy, whom he shared with his former spouse, Mary Gardner, six grandchildren, Olivia, Claire, Henry, Ella, Grace, Camille, his former spouse Marilyn Fiske, six brothers and sisters, Delworth Gardner, Vivian Jones, Laniel Reasch, Marjorie Bradshaw, Julia Sarvey, Joel Gardner and their spouses, children and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister Nola Jean Leavitt.
Jack LeRoy Stone died peacefully during a brief hospital stay in Riverton Utah. He was 85. His family provided the following. Jack said good-bye to the world surrounded by his wife, JoAnn, and daughters, Cindy Zabriskie and Susan West, in the early hours of March 9, 2020. Jack was the third child born to Olive (Jackie) Geneva Shaffer and LeRoy (Roy) Cornell Stone. His mother had adopted the nickname of Jackie when she was a child, and her first-born son gave her an opportunity to name him Jack. Jack joined the family on February 26, 1935, when they lived in McCammon, Idaho. His two older sisters, Myrna Lee and Rita, were his early playmates and they adored their little brother, Jack. Siblings Cal and Judy followed and Vickie joined the family much later.
Most of Jack’s early years were spent moving with the family to various places where his father could find work. The kids attended a new school every year. Growing up during the Great Depression era, the family struggled to make ends meet. These difficult times fostered Jack’s determination and ambition that stayed with him throughout his life. He worked hard to lift himself above the obstacles of poverty. He paid for his own clothes, his college education and also looked after others. His younger brother Cal was especially close to him. Cal described how they attended one room schools and slept in very cold rooms.
The family eventually set roots in Idaho Falls in 1949 and that is where Jack excelled. He played on the Idaho Falls High School basketball team that went undefeated for 3 years straight, 1951-1953, and took the Idaho State Championship for those same consecutive years. In 2005, he and his team mates received the prestigious Legends of the Game Award from the Idaho High Schools Activities Association. They were honored with a standing ovation during a Boise State basketball game, in Boise, at half time. Jack was an all-state athlete in basketball, football and track. He once scored 5 touchdowns in one football game! He received a scholarship to play football at BYU. Unfortunately, he hurt his knee in the All-Conference game his senior year and had to red shirt at BYU.
You can’t tell the story of Jack without JoAnn. Jack met the love of his life in high school, JoAnn Telford. She was a cheerleader and mascot, Tillie (JoAnn’s nickname) the Tiger. The summer they graduated from high school in 1953, Jack and his friend hitchhiked to California to work for his uncle. He had saved his money during the summer to purchase an engagement ring. At the end of the summer he hitchhiked back to Idaho Falls to surprise JoAnn at a big dance in Island Park, at the Mack’s Inn, where he proposed to her. Jack was a very handsome young man with black hair, brilliant blue eyes and a warm smile. JoAnn said yes and he married his high school sweetheart on June 24, 1955 in the Idaho Falls Temple. They borrowed, Jack’s sister, Rita’s car and drove to the newly opened Jackson Lake Lodge for their honeymoon. Jack and JoAnn loved to dance. They married in the era of big band sounds, early rock ‘n’ roll and blue suede shoes. His sister Vicki said he actually had a pair of blue suede shoes! They once won a dance contest later in their years and had not even entered the contest. While others were dancing on the dance floor, Jack and JoAnn quietly danced off to the side enjoying each other and the big band sound. They caught the judge’s eye and he declared them the winners!
Jack graduated from Idaho State University with a degree in Pharmacy. Jack and JoAnn had a basement apartment in Pocatello where Michael was born in 1956. The cutest baby Aunt Lee had ever seen! Susan was born in Idaho Falls in 1960 and was the apple of her dad’s eye. The family moved to Montpelier, Idaho in 1962 and Jack worked at Lowe Drug. Cindy was born in 1964 and completed their family. The years in Montpelier were happy with lots of family friends and activities. They would take weekend snowmobile trips and the family would camp in their trailer on the Palisade Reservoir where the kids would spend many hours catching minnows. They eventually purchased a cabin up on the hill in Alpine in 1968.
Jack had a dream of owning his own drug store and that opportunity came in 1972 when he moved the family to Jackson, Wyoming to purchase Lumley Drug. Jack was a hardworking man. He worked 7 days a week when he first purchased Lumley Drug. He commonly worked 12 to 14 hours days. He always provided for his family and JoAnn worked beside him every step of the way. They opened Stone Drug in 1976. Jack operated the two drug stores for several years. In the early years of Stone Drug, Santa would arrive by helicopter and he would dress as Santa and have the kids line up to tell him what they wanted for
Christmas. A very big event in Jackson in the early 70’s! The store provided a wide variety of goods comparable to the lager stores in Idaho Falls. The store at that time was the size of Stone Drug, Plaza Liquor and Hong Kong Buffet combined! Although he has not owned Stone Drug for many years, Stone Drug remains an icon in the valley and one of the last independently owned drug stores in the State of Wyoming. John Crook, who owned the store for many years and the current owner, Laura Lee Nelson have continued the legacy.
Jack and JoAnn opened another successful business, Plaza Liquor, in 1982. Many people remember the store mascots, parrots Sangrey and Papaguy. That business also continues on today.
Jack loved the outdoors and big game hunting and fishing. He would saddle up horses and with his young son Michael set out for week long hunting trips up the Greys River. This love of hunting and sports showed in the extensive variety and selection of equipment in the sporting goods section at Stone Drug. He took great pride in watching his children participate in their various sports and activities and was a generous supporter of high school sports. When the kids had sports events, you could find him raking the long jump pit at track meets or sitting in the stands routing for the wrestling, football, basketball, volleyball or rodeo teams. He would hike the mountain for ski races.
Jack was kind and honest. He was witty and got along with everyone. He had an amazing ability to remember people and their names. It was not uncommon for him to open up the store after hours so that a customer could get medicine for their sick child. He was a self-made man. He was always willing to help. Jack provided jobs at his businesses for many in the Jackson area and was always generous in supporting local causes and organizations.
Jack and JoAnn enjoyed being snowbirds and the warm climate of Arizona during retirement. They had many friends and lots of fun in Yuma, Arizona. They took day trips to Mexico and had frequent BBQ’s by the pool. They enjoyed their well-earned rest and relaxation in the Arizona desert sun. Jack was always busy mowing lawns or taking care of projects for one of his properties.
Jack was probably most proud of his grandchildren. He delighted in them and traveled to events ranging from various sporting, music, 4-H and scholastic performances and competitions in and around Wyoming and in several surrounding states. He was always present, supportive, loving and encouraging to them. Jack was blessed with 4 grandchildren – Audrey West, Tyson West, Annalise Zabriskie and Peter Zabriskie.
Jack is preceded in death by his father Leroy Cornell Stone, his mother Olive (Jackie) Geneva Shaffer, his sister Judy Stone and sister Rita Simonson.
Jack is survived by, his wife JoAnn Stone, son Michael Stone, daughters Susan West (Boyd) and Cindy Zabriskie (Scott), his sister Myrna Lee Higham, brother Cal Stone (Carolyn) and sister Vicki Harris (George).
He was a very kind and loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and friend. His love for the Lord was evident in the way he treated others. Jack loved fully and was loved in kind.
In lieu of flowers during this Easter Season, the family suggests donations in Jack Stone’s name to the American Heart Association, Primary Children’s Hospital, Jackson or Thayne Volunteer Fire/EMT Departments.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.LarkinMortuary.com
Rex Lars Bood passed away peacefully Monday morning, March 16, 2020 at the age of 84 after a short illness at the Star Valley Care Center in his adopted beloved home of Auburn, Wyoming.
He is survived by his wife Majken, who he married in 1961 and proceeded to love, honor and cherish in every sense of those words for the next nearly 60 years. He is also survived by his sister Rosemary Yerke, (Walter) and many nieces and nephews and their children who all loved Uncle Rex dearly. He also leaves behind a multitude of brothers and sisters from The Meadows Ward of Auburn, Wyoming, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are loved as much as they loved him, and even more friends, acquaintances, and admirers he gathered up along his way. He is preceded in death by his sisters Elda and Sharon, and his brother Warren.
Rex was born on January 17, 1936 in Rexburg, Idaho to Joe and Mary Etta Bood. He grew up there happily and quickly learned to love the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. As a young man he was drafted into service as a soldier in The United States Army where he served dutifully, and upon discharge he relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah where he met his true love Majken. After they married, he was hired full-time as a police officer for the University of Utah Police Department. He served the people there for 30 years, during which time he promoted to Detective. His was a distinguished career in public service, one he was very proud of and excelled at. It also allowed him time to explore (via his police car) the Bonneville Shoreline Trail from the Avenues to Emigration Canyon, Battle Gulch, Dry Gulch, and Red Butte Canyon, “… where the big ones are!”.
He was outside every chance he had throughout his whole life, respectfully walking and later riding the North American hills in search of four-legged game, and scouring waterways for big fish. There are many, many, many of these creatures who wish he had taken a day off from hunting or fishing once in a while, but we are sure they are happy knowing they gave Rex so much pleasure. Others who gave Rex pleasure were his friends that he hunted with, especially Mike and Dan. A very special thank you to you guys for making those trips with Rex.
Another dear thank you goes to all our friends here in the valley who have helped us through these last few months and all the wonderful times we have had here. We love you all very much.
We would love to have everyone share with us at Rex’s services but in these trying times we are limited to a small private service. We are planning a celebration of Rex’s life in the spring or summer when it is a better time for all of us to gather together. Please don’t be disheartened- Rex knows his timing wasn’t as good as it usually is- we will all have closure together in 2-3 months. Save your flowers for then if you would please, or if so, moved please donate anything you can to your local Police Department in the name of U of UPD Detective Rex Bood, Retired.
