James "Rex" Gardner

June 9, 1931 - March 11, 2021

James Rex Gardner passed away peacefully in his sleep the night of March 10, 2021 in his home in Springville, Utah; he was 89 years old. Rex (he preferred to be called by his middle name) was born on June 9, 1931 in Honeyville, Utah to Annie Margaret (née Madsen) and Leon Dewey Gardner; he was their fifth child and third son, with a younger brother to follow. Rex attended Honeyville Elementary, Box Elder High School, and Weber State. After graduating from Weber, Rex enrolled at Utah State, where he met Janice Burton. Drafted into the Army during the Korean War, Rex became a member of the Army Signal Corps and served his country as a cryptographer in Orléans, France. After his honorable discharge from the military at the rank of Corporal, Rex served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Northwestern States. After his mission, Rex completed his business degree at the University of Utah and married Janice in a double wedding with her sister Nancy Kathleen Burton (Robert Wagstaff) in the LDS Idaho Falls Temple on August 16, 1957. They moved to the East Bay in Northern California where Rex completed his master’s degree in accounting, became a CPA, worked in San Francisco, and bought a home in Berkeley, where their five children were born: Stephen Rex (Cynthia), Burton Bryan (Lisa), Dixon Leon (Madeline), Jane Kathleen (Jaren Hinckley) and Ronald James. When Rex found new employment in Marin County, he moved the family to Larkspur, where he subsequently opened his own accountancy firm. Rex was very active in the Kiwanis club in southern Marin, and served as its president; under his direction his chapter accomplished many acts of community service. Rex also devoted many hours volunteering as a coach for the Little and Babe Ruth leagues, as well as for community youth basketball. Rex served in the Boy Scouts of America organization and received the Silver Beaver Award in recognition for his many years of service to enabled and differently-abled boys. Rex loved doing family history work, and he and Janice served as directors of the LDS San Rafael Stake’s family history center, and later served a family history mission at the LDS Oakland Temple Family History Center. When not on a family history mission, Rex and Janice were ordinance workers at the LDS Oakland Temple. After the death of their oldest son, Rex and Janice moved to Springville, Utah, where they enjoyed making new friends in the LDS Kolob 12th ward. During the last year of Rex’s life he received wonderful help from the Aspen Senior Care company, in particular Stephanie Mott, Tawny Ellett and Kade Scoresby as well as from his neighbors, brother-in-law Robert Wagstaff and his wife Joann– thank you! Rex is survived by his wife of 63 years, Janice, his sister Barbara Avondet and step-sister Mary Jo Wight, his daughter-in-law Cindy, his children Burt, Dixon, Jane, and their spouses, his nine grandchildren Daniel (Carla), Kevin (Rebecca), and Benjamin (Alysha) Gardner, Emma, Cate, Ian, and Janice Hinckley, and Aaron and Maddie Gardner; and his three great-grandchildren Charlotte, William and Laurence Rex Gardner; as well as his unofficially-adopted daughter, Monika Bubek (Paulo Nabuco) and their sons Anton, Clancy and Lan. Rex was predeceased by his parents and stepmother Mary Hoeft Gardner, his oldest sister Jean Sorenson, his brothers Spencer Leon, Boyd Kent, and Arthur Ott, stepsister Adriana Forsgren, and his sons Steve and Ron. A Viewing will be held on Friday, March 19, 2021 from 6 to 8 pm at the LDS Kolob 12th Ward, 1627 Cadbury Lane, Springville, UT 84663-5056. A Graveside Service will be held Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 11:30 am at the Honeyville Cemetery, 6900 North 2500 West Honeyville, UT 84314. Interment with Military Honors by the United States Army. We kindly ask that attendees at either commemorative event will please follow local health regulations. We look forward to honoring Rex by hosting a reunion luncheon with our Gardner, Madsen and Burton cousins sometime in the future. Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary