Nita (Turpen) Gardenhire

Private Memorial Service for Nita Gardenhire, 68, of Roland, Oklahoma will be held at a later date. Cremation is under the direction of Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Service, Inc.

She was born on April 26, 1952 in Altus, Oklahoma to Nina Pauline (Ware) Jackson and Jimmy Turpen and passed away on January 21, 2021 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She was married to Harlan Gardenhire. She was an emergency medical technician and owned Ace Ambulance Service in Muldrow, Oklahoma.

Survivors are:

husband: Harlan of the home;

1 daughter: Dana Spencer of Muldrow, OK;

1 son: Ervano Ware of Ft. Smith, AR;

1 step-son: Michael Gardenhire of Sallisaw, OK;

2 grandchildren: Joshua Smith and Ella Rose Ware;

3 great-grandchildren: Aleah, McKenzie and Alaesen;

father: Jimmy Turpen of Muldrow, OK;

6 sisters: Reba Flinn of Muldrow, OK, Lita Salazar of Muldrow, OK, Neva Dunegan of Hobart, OK, Lisa Maldanado of Hobart, OK, Gayla Harris of Roland, OK and Renee Gardner of Odessa, TX;

3 brothers: Jimmy “Buddy” Turpen of Hobart, OK, Mike Turpen of Elk City, OK and Calvin Jackson of Odessa, TX;

several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Nina Pauline Jackson; step-dad, James Jackson; two brothers, Marvin and Eric Jackson; and one son, Jim Smith.

In lieu of flowers, please hold your family and friends close and be kind and respectful to one another.