Obituary of Bernice M. Garner

Bernice M. Garner, 95, died at her home, Tuesday, November 26, 2013. Services celebrating Bernice's life will be held at 2 pm Saturday, November 30, 2013, at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Iowa City. There will be a time of visitation one hour prior to the services at the church and a time of fellowship and refreshments following the services. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to: St. Mark's Methodist Church or Iowa City Community School District Foundation/Garner School. Bernice Marlatt Garner was born on April 9, 1918, in Caldwell County, MO, the daughter of Frank and Huldah (Smith) Marlatt. She went to a rural one-room school for grades 1-8, graduated from Cameron High School (MO) and attended Northwest Missouri State University. She taught elementary school for 1 year in Forbes, MO and 1 year in a one-room rural school in DeKalb County, MO. On August 10, 1939, Bernice married Buford Garner. He was her beloved husband for 69 years until his death in 2008. Bernice was an important support to Buford's work in public education, first in several Missouri communities and then in the Iowa communities of Iowa City, Des Moines, Grinnell and Burlington/Fort Madison. She was an active community volunteer in the cities in which she lived. Bernice was a charter member of St. Mark's United Methodist Church as well as a charter member of United Methodist Women and served in many leadership positions at the local, district, and conference levels of that denomination. She was a member of P.E.O. for over 60 years, beginning and ending as a member of Chapter JF. Bernice was a kind, thoughtful, loving person and a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her family includes children: Sue (Jim) Updegraff of West Union, IA, Janie (Steve) Schomberg of Iowa City, IA, and Jac (Edye) Garner of Madison, WI; grandchildren Anne (Randy Armentrout) Updegraff, John (Ellen Wheeler) Schomberg, Sarah (Steve Murray) Updegraff, Laura (Jim) Schomberg Jacobus, Andrew (Melissa) Garner, and Allyson Garner; 7 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law John (Roberta) Garner of Lancaster, PA; 2 nieces; 3 nephews; and great-nieces and nephews. Special thanks to the St. Mark's Thursday Morning Study Group; members of her St. Mark's United Methodist Church Transportation Team for all their assistance; Ann Larew for her special care and companionship; the Legacy Ridge staff for their kindness and support; and the staff and students of Buford Garner Elementary School for the joy they brought to her life. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Bernice's family and her services.