Catherine "Cathy" Gardner Obituary (1952 - 2024)

Born Jan 05, 1952, Catherine "Cathy" Gardner was faculty at Clyde A Erwin High School in Asheville, NC. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Catherine "cathy" Gardner.

School Role	Faculty
Date of Birth	Jan 05, 1952
Date of Passing	Aug 30, 2024
About	Catherine “Cathy” Gardner, a beloved mother, grandmother, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully in her sleep at 2:30 a.m. on August 30, 2024, at the age of 72. Born in January 5th, 1952 to Walter Scott Burge and Betty Ann Hahn, Cathy was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Dorothy “Dottie” Burge and her cherished son, Joshua Nicholas Gardner. She is survived by her devoted husband of 49 years, James “Bill” Gardner, her loving son, Matthew Scott Gardner, Her daughter-in-love, Glori Keating-Gardner, and her two grandsons, Joshua James Gardner and Daniel Scott Gardner, who brought immense pride and joy to her life. She will be dearly missed by her sister Kathy “Kay” Gerhardt and stepmother Nancy Clark. Cathy’s life was a testament to the power of love, creativity, and hospitality. As the matriarch of the family, she created a warm and welcoming environment where family and friends alike were treated as kin. Her home was often filled with the comforting aromas of homemade dishes, lovingly prepared for all who entered her door to create tradition with lifelong memories. She was not only a dedicated and loyal wife, but also an incredible mother who found great pleasure in giving gifts to her son, daughter-in-love and grandchildren. She was always finding ways to show love and make everyone feel special whether you were a family member, friend or a stranger in need of encouragement. A dedicated high school teacher for 35 years, Cathy had a heart for her students, nurturing them with wisdom, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to helping them grow into successful men and women. Her passion for education extended far beyond the classroom, as she maintained lifelong relationships with her students, offering encouragement, counsel, and unwavering support. Cathy had an eye for fashion and design, which was evident in every corner of her life. Whether through her carefully chosen outfits or the beautifully decorated spaces she crafted, her creativity left a lasting footprint. She had a unique talent for making the ordinary extraordinary, transforming everyday moments into something special through her keen sense of style and attention to detail. She also had a genuine love for antiques as not only a collector, but as someone who would light-up and draw you in when she shared the history of that era. Cathy will be deeply missed by all who knew her, but her legacy of love, creativity, and devotion will continue to live on in the hearts of those she touched. A Funeral Service will be held starting at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, September 4 in the Chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian with burial to follow at Calvary Churchyard. Her family will greet friends at the funeral home on Wednesday afternoon from 1:00 until 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, her family graciously asks that memorial donations be made to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue.