Anne Gardner Obituary

Anne Lancaster Gardner
August 19, 1942 - August 3, 2023
Fort Worth, Texas - Anne Lancaster Gardner, 80, passed peacefully Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023.
She was, by any definition, a remarkable woman, both personally and professionally. She had a happy childhood growing up in Corpus Christi, Texas. She was a gifted student of ballet. She also enjoyed riding horses and they became a life-long passion for her. After finishing high school in Corpus Christi, she enrolled in The University of Texas at Austin and became an exemplary student. She entered the Texas Law School in 1963 and graduated with honors in 1966. She was one of seven women in her graduating class of 371 students. She married her classmate, Terry Gardner, from Austin, in 1966. After graduation that same year, Terry was a briefing attorney for the Supreme Court of Texas and she worked at the Texas Bar Association. They moved to Fort Worth in 1967 where Terry had secured employment as an attorney with a large law firm and Anne set about pursuing her life- long dream of being a lawyer. In the late 1960's, Anne's attempts to secure a job practicing law were heartbreaking. Although her scholastic record at the law school was exemplary in all respects, she found out that in that day and age it was rare indeed for a law firm to hire a woman as a lawyer. Anne finally secured a job as the legal assistant to federal judge, Leo Brewster. He adored her and she adored him. She then went on to work in various prominent law firms in Fort Worth including Simon, Peebles, Haskell, Gardner & Betty as well as McLean, Sanders. From 1988 until 2000 she practiced at Shannon Gracey, Ratliff and Miller establishing herself as the chairperson for the appellate section with that firm.
On January 1, 2000, Anne was appointed by Governor George W. Bush to be a justice on the Second Court of Appeals sitting in Fort Worth with jurisdiction over 12 surrounding counties. Here she served the people of North Texas until her retirement in 2016.
In her life practicing law, her achievements are too long to chronicle here but there will be a hand out at her memorial service which lists them.
In 1971 she gave birth to their only child , Travis Gregory Gardner. They adored each other. He now lives in Mexico with his wife, Sara-Mai Conway, and their two faithful dogs.
Anne is survived by her beloved husband, Terry, their son, Travis Gardner, 2 nieces and a nephew in Corpus Christie as well as a little red Cavalier dog, Phoebe.
A special thank you to Elizabeth Galvan for all of her tender love and care of Anne. Anne said Elizabeth was an angel sent from heaven.
Anne was a true trail blazer in her professional career, all the while being modest, kind, giving, forgiving and encouraging to others. It is for those qualities that she will be most remembered.
Memorial Service: 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, in Greenwood Chapel, with a reception to follow in the Live Oak Room.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Humane Society of North Texas in memory of Judge Anne Gardner.