Iona Mae (Ferguson) Garner

Iona (Ferguson) Garner, known by her family and friends as Zonie, was born in Ainsworth, Nebraska, on Christmas Day, 1920. She grew up in a large family, and family remained her focus always. Iona put herself through one year of college during the Depression with the help of an older sister who sent her one dollar every week. She began teaching at the age of 19 in a rural S. Dakota school. While teaching there, she met and married James Garner in 1940. Iona continued to teach, and had a 35-year career, much of which was at Knappa Grade School.

Besides her devotion to her family and career, Iona loved reading, gardening, cooking and art. Iona was a strong, loving woman who had a talent for imparting knowledge to others, whether in the classroom or showing her children and grandchildren how to bake, or set a table, or draw a landscape. Her love for others and joyful presence will be missed.

Iona is survived by her son Richard Garner, daughter Pamela Garner, 4 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, 3 sisters, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service at the Christian Church of Warrenton will be held on Saturday, Aug. 17, at 2 p.m..

In Lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to the Lower Columbia Hospice, 2111 Exchange Street, Astoria, Oregon 97103.

Arrangements are under the direction of Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary.