June Watkins Curdie Gardner

A great lady of the South, June Watkins Curdie Gardner, age 94, died Easter Sunday April 21, 2019 in Little Rock. A member of the of the Greatest Generation, she was a devoted traditional Latin Mass Catholic, and a member of St John the Baptist Latin Mass Community, first in St Patrick's Catholic Church in NLR and then at the new church in Cabot, Ark. She was born June 7, 1924 in Little Rock in the family home, which is still standing at 1301 Scott Street, LR, and a Quapaw Quarter house in the same block as the Villa Marre. Her childhood home is traditionally known as the Rozelle-Murphy Home. Her mother and father were John Noble Watkins and Miriam Ward Watkins of LR. Her aunts, who owned and operated a French Tea Room during the Depression in LR, were Aimee, Blanche and Marie Mivelaz. Louie Mivelaz, her uncle, was a manager and French chef in the old Capital Hotel in LR near the turn of the century. Ms. Gardner attended Stephens College for Women, Columbia, Mo. and the University of Oklahoma. At age 50, she obtained her degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. During World War II, she was a Red Cross volunteer and she volunteered at the VA in NLR writing letters to the families of disabled soldiers who had been sent to the VA for rehabilitation but they couldn't physically write letters on their own. Ms. Gardner was a legal secretary and paralegal for 42 years for attorneys Charles Eichenbaum, E. M. Arnold, Griffin Smith and John Biscoe Bingham. She loved typing the scripts of Mr. Smith's many Gridiron Shows. She obtained her real estate and broker's license and sold real estate for 6 years before retiring. She was an enthusiastic volunteer in the political campaigns of Governor Huckabee, Senator Cotton, Jim Keet and Governor Hutchinson. She was predeceased by her parents, and her sister, Miriam Watkins Cook of LR. She is survived by her son, Don N Curdie of Little Rock, niece Bobbalu Cook Hoefer (Andy) of Laramie, Wyo.; nephew Robert R Cook ( Pam) of Owensboro, Ky.; niece, Jean Louise Scatizzi (Richard) of St. Louis, Mo., and so many friends! She (on her walker) and her son, Don, could be seen going to so many local doctor's offices and restaurants in LR. She loved Franke's Cafeteria (friends Art, Sandra and Mary,) Black Angus (friends Karla and Josh). In recent years she saw and was treated by so many excellent doctors in the area. She wanted to mention them because she knew their care helped her get to age 94! Dr. Rhonda Gentry and Cathy her great nurse; Dr. John Jones; Dr. Ron Hardin; Dr. Alex Orsini; Dr. Nancy Zuerlein; Dr. Richard 0' Anna; Dr. Rennie Bressinck; Dr. Matt Kagy; Dr. Lee Archer; Dr. Chris Pittman; Dr. Mark Dyer; Dr. Glenn Davis; Dr. Annette Meador; Dr. Angela Lovett. Dr. David Redding; Dr. Jay Lipke, Dr. Randy Jordan; Ms. Stephanie Padilla. Ms. Gardner had care givers in her declining years. We give praise and thanks for Alice, Dayna, Kelli, Maria, Rosanne, Lynne, and C. J. Thanks to Hospice Home Care on Bowman Road for their kindness and love in her last two days. Special thanks to Jeff Noble, the best physical therapist ever!!! Ms. Gardner was a skilled stained glass craftsman, she played piano and organ, and she knitted some beautiful hats and blankets. Visitation is Friday, April 26, 2019 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with the Rosary beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home, Griffin Leggett Healey and Roth, 5800 West 12th St, Little Rock, AR 72204. The Funeral Mass is at 10 am on Saturday, April 27, 2019, at St John the Baptist Latin Mass Community Church, 106 Pin Oak Drive, Cabot, Ark. 72023. Entombment is at the Calvary Catholic Cemetery, East Wall of the Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum, 20th and S Woodrow St., (main) entrance off of Charles Bussy Ave) Little Rock, Ark.). Please share your messages of love, comfort and support with June's family at www.griffinleggetthealeyroth.com.