Obituary: William Blair Gardner, 1934-2013
William Blair Gardner, CPA, 78, passed away on January 16, 2013. He was a resident of Crowley Lake and has lived in the Mammoth Lakes area for 48 years. He passed at Northern Inyo Hospital in Bishop after a two-year struggle with heart disease and lung cancer. He was born on April 22, 1934 in Glendale, Calif., to William “K” Gardner and Aline Blair Fideldy.
Bill grew up in Glendale, Calif., and attended Glendale schools graduating from Glendale High School in1952. He continued his education at UCLA and was a member of the Epsilon Sigma Fraternity. In 1954, he was drafted into the US Army during the Korean War. He spent the majority of his service time in Wiesbaden, Germany, where he discovered his love of travel and photography. Upon his honorable discharge, he continued his education at UC Berkley graduating with a B.S. in Engineering in 1960. He was a member of the UC Hiking Club and folk dancing groups. He continued his education at California State College at Los Angeles for his M.S. He served his internship with Haskins and Sells Accounting Firm continuing as an employee for 3 ½ years. The State of California Board of Accounting granted Bill his Certified Public Accountant entitlement in 1966. He was also certified with The California Society of Certified Public Accountants in 1968.
Bill and Julie Marie Beaty were married in 1972 and made Mammoth Lakes their home. After their marriage dissolved, they remained close and caring friends. In the early ‘70s Bill set up his CPA practice in Mammoth Lakes. He retired in 2011 due to his ill health.
Bill’s hobbies included camping, fishing, hiking the John Muir Trail and the Eastern Sierras, photography and most of all traveling. He traveled throughout the United States supporting our National Parks and Monuments. He traveled around the world, often inviting his sisters as companions. He especially loved the folklore, music and dances of Eastern Europe.
Bill was a lifetime member with the California Alumni Assoc. and the Sierra Club. His other memberships included the Folkdance Federation of Southern California, the Yosemite Conservancy, the Bodie Foundation and Death Valley ‘49ers.
He received a Resolution of Appreciation from the Southern Mono Hospital District, Certificate of Appreciation from the Mammoth Hospital Auxiliary and from the Board of Directors of the Mono County Arts Council. He enjoyed volunteering for the Cast Off Thrift Store and various community festivals.
Bill is survived by his sisters Judith Banks of Valley Springs, Calif., Christine Gilchrist of Ojai Calif., his nephews Dale Banks (Gerri) of Lyons, Ore., Glen Banks of Reds Meadows, Mammoth and Salem, Ore., his nieces Lynda Appel (Mike) of Vancouver, Wash., Tamara Sexton of Ojai Calif., Clarissa Sexton and Stacey Bayless both of Birch Bay, Wash., and several great and great-great nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his former wife and best friend, Julie Beaty Gardner.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Murat Akalin, MD, MPH, Barbara Goodwill, RN of Mammoth Hospital, Dr. Jennifer Scott of Northern Inyo Hospital in Bishop for their compassionate care, the friendships of the Mammoth Hospital Auxiliary, the members of the Cancer Support Group and his friends that were especially caring and helpful during his difficult times. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s memory may be made to the Mammoth Hospital Auxiliary or a charity of one’s choice.
