of Little Rock, AR

October 10, 1920 - September 28, 2017

Martha Maudine Gardner Sealander, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away on Thursday, September 28, 2017, at the age of 96. She was born October 10, 1920, in Milo, Arkansas, as one of eight children to Edward Leroy Gardner and Jewel Alexandria Allen Gardner. Martha was a devoted and caring wife, mother and grandmother and she will be greatly missed.

Martha graduated from Parkdale High School in 1939 and then taught at the Parkdale Elementary School from 1941 to 1942. She was honored to be chosen as Miss Ashley County at the Ashley County Fair in 1942.

Martha moved to Conway, Arkansas, where she attended Arkansas State Teachers' College (now the University of Central Arkansas-UCA) for two years and two summers. She and her twin brothers, Robert and Ralph, attended school on the National Youth Association (NYA) program established by Eleanor Roosevelt. Students in that program were required to work four hours a day for free room and board and had to buy their books and pay their college credit fees.

Martha met the love of her life, Donald, one afternoon at Walgreen's Drug Store on Main Street in Little Rock (He was a Master Sgt. In the U.S. Army Medical Corp. and stationed at Camp Robinson). Don was instantly smitten and she thought he was really cute. They married on July 11, 1943, at Parkdale Baptist Church and after their honeymoon in Memphis, Tennessee, they moved to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. When Don was shipped out to Hickam Field in Honolulu, Hawaii, Martha moved to his hometown, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, where their daughter Donna was born. Don joined her there after his discharge from the Army in November 1945. Their second daughter, Mari Ann, was born eight years later. She and Don had many close friends with whom they played golf and bridge. They spent summers at their lake house and fully enjoyed the summer and winter sports that their small town offered.

In 1958, the family moved to Clinton, Missouri, where they owned and operated a Coast-to-Coast hardware store. Martha took evening classes from professors who came from Central Missouri State College (CMSC) in Warrensburg, Missouri, in order to earn more credits toward her teaching degree. A later move to Warrenburg enabled her to attend classes there also.

After Martha's family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, she taught first grade at Baker Elementary School in Pulaski County in 1966 (until then, it was legal to teach in Arkansas with 90 hours of credit). She finally received her B.A. in Education in 1970 by attending summer classes at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR). She retired in June, 1985, after 30 years of teaching and often remarked how much she loved those teaching years. She especially loved her former school principal, Ila Newberry, and they remained friends after their retirement.

Martha was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church, where she sang in the senior choir and had many close friends in the Phebean Sunday School class. She had many caring and loving neighbors who watched over her and were there when she needed a helping hand. In turn, she baked bread, cakes, pies, and cookies for them as a love gift for their help. Her special neighborhood friends were Turner and Judy Buie, Betty and Curt Baltz, Ray and Judy Stewart, Sylvia and Dayna Crawford, and Stephanie Sikora.

Martha is survived by her brother, Frank Harold Gardner (Mary), two daughters, Mari Ann Garrison (Bill) and Donna Loe (Dale), her granddaughter, Dr. Julianne Duncan Corder (Justin), and two great-grandchildren, Nicholas Corder and Alexis Corder, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Arthur Sealander, her sister, Mary Ann ''Polly'' Gardner Sacco, her brothers, Edward Leroy ''Jake'' Gardner, Jr., Ralph Irving Gardner (Tess), Robert Allen Gardner (Aline), Jack Crandall Gardner and William ''Bill'' Thomas Gardner (Mary Kathryn).

A memorial service will be at Immanuel Baptist Church, 501 North Shackleford Road, on Monday, October 2, 2017, at 10 a.m., with the Reverend Rick Jaggars officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. A graveside service will follow at 3 p.m. at Egypt Cemetery in Hamburg. Arrangements are by Roller-Chenal Funeral Home (501-224-8300)

Memorials may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church Music Ministry or the Egypt Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, Route 1, Box 294, Hamburg, AR 71646.

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