Alice Dianne (Gardner) Lingerfelt |
| Posted 2026-01-05 by mhenderson |
| Published by Arizona Daily Sun from Dec. 30, 2025 to Jan. 3, 2026 - Flagstaff, Arizona - Alice Dianne Gardner Lingerfelt (Dianne) died Tuesday, December 8, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. She was 91. Mrs. Lingerfelt was born on October 13, 1934 in Memphis, TN to Alfred E. and Dona (Williams) Gardner. Mrs. Lingerfelt grew up in Memphis, graduating from East High School. She continued her education at Blue Mountain College in Blue Mountain, Mississippi and Baylor University in Waco, TX where she graduated with a BA in English, with a dual minor in drama and Spanish. Postgraduate work led to a general elementary teaching credential in California. She later received her MA in Education from Northern Arizona University. In March 1958, Mrs. Lingerfelt married her lifelong love, Joe Edward Lingerfelt, in Memphis, TN. Together they forged a strong partnership which included their four children-Helen, Julia, Dona, and Joseph-10 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren-plus many more "adopted" children, including their "son of the heart," Kent Krakowian, whom they embraced within their family circle. Mrs. Lingerfelt had a varied career. She taught first grade and kindergarten in the Pasadena and Santa Barbara areas and English and drama courses at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. She held many secretarial and administrative assistant positions, the most recent being as administrative assistant for the Associated Students at Northern Arizona University. Mrs. Lingerfelt along with her husband were joint Northern Arizona University Homecoming Dedicatees in 1997. Mrs. Lingerfelt lived a life of faith and service. She was always active in church activities-conducting church pageants, mentoring young mothers through MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), chairing and being a national representative for Flagstaff Christian Women's Club, assisting in the Flagstaff Women's Shelter, and even traveling to Cuba on a missions trip when she was 82. She was "Mom" to many and was known for her energy, enthusiasm, generous hospitality, and loving heart. Mrs. Lingerfelt is survived by her daughters Helen (Michael) McDowell of Prescott, Julia (Bobby) Dean of Sugar Land, TX, and Dona Lingerfelt of Portland, OR; son Joseph of Portland, OR; nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe, granddaughter Bethany (Kurtz) Moers, and great granddaughter, Charleigh Mae Pepper. A memorial service will be Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 2 p.m. at First Southern Baptist Church of Flagstaff. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the American Alzheimer's Association. |
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