Garner, Kathleen C.
Birth: in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Death: Thursday, June 23, 2016
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Born in Philadelphia in February 1945, Kathy lived her life in the pursuit of pleasure in the moment. She received a psychology degree from Adirondack Community College. Maturing over time, that which pleased her was refined from "self-service" to "serving others."

In her lifetime, she fostered countless troubled teens and youth (two of which she adopted), operated a ferret rescue, adopted three ex-racing greyhounds destined for euthanization, created a church ministry for mature women, calling it "The Silver Belles," and with failing health, traveled on two church missions to assist others less fortunate. She cared for the elderly in their homes and in a Fairfield, CA nursing home.

She raised five children and assisted in the rearing of two grandchildren. She immersed herself in dedication to the physically and mentally handicapped: she worked in New York state's Wilton Developmental Center for developmentally-challenged youth and adults; she qualified as EMT for, first, Saratoga Springs, NY, then Wilton, NY and later Solano County, California.

She created and taught a program for AIDS education at Positive Approach to Consumer Education (PACE), in Vallejo, CA. She worked with developmentally-challenged adults in Hawaii's Waimano Home Center on Oahu. Othercredits of compassion include assisting a Ghanaian boy, Abdul Awal, in completing his education and job training after the death of his parents; providing temporary room and board for several friends recovering from substance abuse; certifying as a doula (a midwife's counterpart) for expecting mothers; and, for a short time, volunteering at Calvert County's battered women shelter.

After all this, Kathy asked her husband more than once, "What have I done with my life?" She still felt inadequate for not accomplishing anything. She showed those who knew her the heart of Jesus. Even after all the acts of kindness we witnessed, Kathy was still very human. Those who were close knew she loved a good scary movie, water flumes (but NOT roller-coasters), liverwurst and onion sandwiches, mystery novels, fishing, almost any music, sunbathing, Diet Mountain Dew and shopping.

She could bring a smile to anyone's face, though. When told by her husband of his boat's changing home port from Vallejo, CA to Pearl Harbor, HI, she asked, "So how long of a drive is it to Hawaii?" When returning home after one summer day at a mall, she was moving her head and humming to the beat of an ACIDC tape her husband was playing in the truck. She became red-faced when, in a car next to them at a red light, the driver was staring at her in horror - she realized she had just blared out, "I've got big balls!"

Our funny, kindhearted, beloved Kathy departed to be with our Lord on June 23,2016. She was predeceased by her mother, Charlotte LaRane Dover, and her adoptive father, Sumner W. Kitchen, and a son, John Lindstead. She is survived by her husband, Dale J Gamer; by three sons, Dale Lindstead, Dean Lindstead (Lisa) and Jay Gamer. Kathy leaves behind two daughters, Katie Lindstead-Grazier (Kenny) and LaRane Gamer. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Sarah Trego (Johnathon Wathen), Mathew Trego, Jessica Thorn, Caleb Lindstead and Ashley Lindstead; and two great-grandchildren, Dominick and Delilah Wathen.

Arrangements provided by Rausch Funeral Home.
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