Julia Beth Gardner

JULIA BETH GARDNER of Little Rock died Dec. 29, 2018. She was 64. Beth is survived by her sister Linda McLain of Little Rock; children Kathryn Allen (Ben) and Laura Turner (Lance) of Sherwood and John Gardner IV (Angela) of North Little Rock; grandchildren Bob Kilpatrick, Samuel Allen, Elizabeth Turner, James Allen and John Gardner V; and many cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents Wade and Dorothy Gilbert of Hope. Beth was born Sept. 7, 1954, in Hope. She attended Hope High School and Hendrix College. She loved her children, whom she shared with John Gardner III. Beth loved music, theater and art. She was a talented pianist and cook. She enjoyed fishing and traveling to destinations such as Hawaii, Alaska, Iceland and the U.K. She will be remembered as a wonderful mother and Mimi. Her sister said it best: "She loved her children — that's all there was to it." Visitation is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Jan. 10 at First United Methodist Church in North Little Rock. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. www.SmithFamilyCares.com.