Mary Ellen Gardner, 88, of Wellington, died Thursday, January 16, 2020. She was born in South Woodbury, Ohio on November 24, 1931 and moved to Wellington at a young age. Mary graduated from Wellington High School.

She retired from Columbia Gas. Mary also worked as a Librarian at the Herrick Memorial Library. She was a past president of the Friends of the Library. Family was very important to Mary and she cherished being a mother and grandmother.

Mary is survived by her son, Brooke Gardner, of Wellington; grandchildren, Thomas, Myra, and Leticia Gardner Huber; great grandchildren, Hope, Lincoln, Ramona and Atlas; and siblings, Art Rucker and Judith Clayton.  She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Rucker; sister, Helen Hopewell and brother, Holsey Rucker Jr.

Friends and family will be received from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday, January 25 at Norton-Eastman Funeral Home, 370 S. Main St., Wellington.  A private burial at Greenwood Cemetery, Wellington, will take place at a later date.