Eva Mae Gardner (nee, Sellers) died June 26 at age 80 in Houston, Texas, after an extended battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Born on Feb. 5, 1926, in Fried, N.D., Gardner grew up in Jamestown, N.D., married Thomas Carl Gardner on Jan. 14, 1946, and lived most of her married life in Federal Way.

She worked as a telephone and teletype operator in Minneapolis, Auburn and Seattle.

She retired as a dietician from the Federal Way School District in 1983, and moved to Houston in 1998 to be with her daughters.

Survivors include her three children Douglas Gardner (Wilma Muhlbeier) of Kennewick, Linda Railsback (Jan) of Houston and Kathy French (Jimmy) of Houston; three grandchildren; one stepgrandson; four great-grandchildren; and three siblings.

Memorial services will be held 2 p.m. Aug. 9 at St Luke’s Lutheran Church, 512 S. 312th St., Federal Way.

Donations in Gardner’s name may be made to the local Alzheimer’s Association office.

To learn more, visit www.alz.org/Donate/overview.asp or e-mail dgardner3783@charter.net.