Genevieve (“Genny”) Gardner Hougland passed away on December 25, 2017 in Houston, Texas. She was born on July 10, 1917 in Bardwell, Kentucky. She was the daughter of Elias Gardner (the only dentist in the county) and his wife Inez. After growing up in Bardwell, she attended Murray State Teachers College, receiving a degree in Home Economics in 1940. She began working for a New Deal agency, the Farm Security Administration, as a home economics adviser to farm families. She was assigned to work in Calhoun, Kentucky.
In Calhoun she soon met Gresham Hougland, whom she married in 1942. Gresh worked in the family business of farming (until 1949) and river transportation (moving coal and other products by barges). While they lived in Calhoun, their first son, Jim, was born in 1945. In 1950 they followed the family business to Paducah. Their second son, Bill, was born in Paducah that year.
Genny became active in civic affairs in Paducah. She was a regular volunteer and became President of the Freidman Community Center. She was a member and became President of a garden club and served on the Civic Beautification Board. She was always involved with her church (Fountain Avenue United Methodist Church and, later, First Christian Church) and with her sons’ schools and their activities.
A few years after her husband of 50 years passed away, she decided she should move closer to where one of her sons lived and picked Houston in part because of its milder winters. She became an active member of Lakewood United Methodist Church. She lived independently in her own home and drove until she was 95. Then she moved to an independent living facility, where she met many new friends and kept up her lifetime hobby of bridge. At age 100, she needed more care and moved to an assisted living facility.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her brother (Dr. Neville Gardner), her husband, and two great grandchildren (Ann Burch and Ruth Burch). She is survived by her son Jim, and wife Linda, of Lexington, her son Bill, and wife Lorie, of Houston, six grandchildren (Tonya Merritt – and husband Brent, Janna Burch – and husband Tom, Dan Hougland, Ross Hougland – and wife Staci, Jack Hougland and Kevin Hougland), seven great grandchildren (Eli, Lucy, Will, Mackenzie, Owen, Ike and Paige), a niece, Sue Malloy, and a nephew, Tom Gardner.
Following a Memorial Service in Houston on December 29, she will be interred in Roselawn Cemetery in Bardwell, Kentucky on January 26 at 11 am., which her Western Kentucky friends are invited to attend. Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Bardwell is in charge of services.
In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to Down Syndrome Association of Central Kentucky, 1050 Chinoe Road, Suite 204, Lexington, KY 40502, Lakewood United Methodist Church 11330 Louetta Road, Houston TX 77070 or an organization of your choice.
You may light a candle and leave a message of sympathy at www.milnerandorr.com
