Funeral services for Velma Gardner, 94, of Portales, will be at 10:00 AM, Thurs., Nov. 10, 2016 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Leroy Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in the Causey Cemetery with her grandchildren serving as pallbearers. Mike and Ann Clark as well as Marilynn Gardner and the other members of the Wednesday Morning Coffee League will be honorary pallbearers. Velma Lou Gardner was born Sept. 17, 1922 in Rogers, NM to the home of Ada Alice (Yarbrough) and Steven Amos Corbin and died peacefully at her home on Nov. 4, 2016. Mrs. Gardner grew up in the Causey community and graduated from high school in 1940. On Feb. 12, 1945 in Portales, she was married to Kenneth Gardner. The couple farmed in the Causey area until Mr. Gardner's death. From 1963 until 1984, they also owned and operated the Causey Store. Velma was a member of the Causey Church of Christ. Mr. Gardner preceded her in death on Jan. 20, 1999, after more than 53 year of marriage. Velma remained in Causey until 2006 when she moved to Portales. She was an avid bowler, and was very proud of the fact that she bowled a 603 series in 1975. Less than a year ago she bowled in the 190's, and had in fact gone bowling just two days before her death. In addition to bowling, she enjoyed cross stitching and quilting and growing beautiful flowers in her garden. She is survived by five sons and four daughters-in-law, Ray Gardner of Clovis, Olin and Janice Gardner of Ruidoso, NM, Mark and Janice Gardner of La Luz, NM, Bill and Lisa Gardner of Estancia, NM and Joe and Marsha Gardner of Artesia, NM; a daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Ed Potter of Midland, TX; twelve grandchildren, Stacie (Christian) Frye, Andrea (Brian) Hudson, Greg Gardner, Ben (Mary) Gardner, Dan (Aubrey) Gardner, Cole (Megan) Gardner, Judd Gardner, Clayton (Michelle) Gardner, Kimberly (Daniel) Grubbs, Travis Gardner, Jennifer Potter, and Julie (Tom) Knapp; 10 great-grandchildren; a brother, Harold Corbin of Albuquerque; and a sister, Mildred Gardner of Portales. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, Ernest, Clifford, Melvin and Delous Corbin, two sisters, Mae Howard and Opal Cox, a daughter-in-law, Sharon Gardner and a grandson, Jason Gardner.