Fairy L. "Cookie" Gardner, 83, Witten, SD passed away on Sunday, May 4, 2014 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Facility in Winner, SD. The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at 11:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Winner. Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at the Mason Funeral Home from 6:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. Fairy L. "Cookie" Gardner was born April 1, 1931 in Lyons, NE. She was the youngest of two children born to Stewart and Zelma (Beemer) Cook. Cookie grew up in Colome, SD before moving back to Lyons, NE. She graduated from Lyons High School in 1949 where she excelled in music. She received her teaching degree from Wayne State Teachers College in Wayne, NE in 1951. She was the first chair trombone in both high school and college. After college she returned to Winner and worked at the Omaha Coal Storage until 1952. On April 18, 1952 she was united in marriage to Rex Gardner where they resided on the farm north of Witten and later moved to Witten. To this union 5 children were born: Scott, twins Bobby and Billy, Sherry and Barry. Cookie became an excellent cook and for a short time in the mid to late 60's ran Cookie's Café in Witten. She will be remembered for her cookies (the grandchildren's favorite was chocolate chip). She was an avid sports fan that never missed her children's sporting events. She was a seamstress; making many of her children's clothing. Her joy's included: sewing, gardening, fishing, crocheting and spending time with friends and family. Cookie will be truly missed. Cookie is survived by her husband Rex of 62 years and their children: Scott (Jane), of Brandon, SD, Bob (Vanessa), of Pierre, SD, Bill (Bonnie), of Winner, SD, Sherry (Doug) Best, of Witten, SD and Barry (Rachell), of Winner, SD; 13 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and her brother Melvin Cook, of North Platte, NE, and a very special friend Max Dreyer. Cookie is preceded in death by her parents Stewart and Zelma (Beemer) Cook.