Ardith Nadine Stones, 91, died Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at Garden
Valley Retirement Village in Garden City, Kansas. She was born
September 9, 1930 on the family farm near McDonald, Kansas the daughter
of Floyd & Letty (Bannister) Craig.
Ardith attended schools in McDonald, Kansas where she graduated
from high school. On May 1, 1949, she married Charles O. Stones in
McDonald, Kansas. They lived in Bird City, Kansas, St. John, Kansas,
and Hugoton, Kansas before moving to Garden City in 1973. They have
lived in Garden City since. A homemaker, Ardith also worked as an
editor for the Hugoton Hermes while living in Hugoton and after moving
to Garden City, she worked for many years for the First United Methodist
Church as Senior Pastor Secretary. Ardith was a member of the First
United Methodist Church where she served as a Sunday School Teacher.
She was also a member of the Builders Sunday School Class, Church
Circle, the God Mothers, Friends of Lee Richardson Zoo, Friends of
Finney County Library, and served as a Girl Scout Leader for many years
in both Hugoton and Garden City. She enjoyed spending her time cooking,
baking, sewing, quilting, crafts, and loved playing board games with
her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also loved all animals,
and as an avid sports fan she loved to watch the Dallas Cowboys and the
Boston Celtics.
Survivors include her husband Charles O. Stones of the home; two
daughters Judy Steinbrink & husband Rich of Garden City and Gaynelle
Beasley of Garden City; four grandchildren Brynn Shellenberger &
husband Jim, Melissa Ridder & husband Alex, Mekayla Petrus &
husband Dustin, and Britny Sweeney; and six great-grandchildren Keely,
Kambri, Kaia, Isaiah, Kolby, & Brody. Ardith is preceded in death
by her parents; a daughter Leaetta Sue Stones; and two sons-in-law
Donald Ridder and David Beasley.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 3,
2021 at the First United Methodist Church in Garden City with Rev. Joel
Plisek officiating. Services may also be viewed on Facebook Live the
Garnand Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will follow at Valley View
Cemetery in Garden City. Friends may call from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
on Thursday and from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday all at Garnand
Funeral Home in Garden City. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests
memorials given to the Western Kansas Community Foundation Library Fund,
or to the First United Methodist Church, both in care of the funeral
home.