Nellie was the daughter of Sarah Eleanor "Nell" Harris (also known as "Ellen") and Dr. Charles W. Gardner. Nellie was born in Exeter Twp in Monroe County where her father practiced medicine; her mother died the day after she was born.
Nellie was raised by her aunt and uncle, Margaret (Gardner) and Damascus Monks. In the family they were known as Aunt Maggie and Uncle Jim. Damascus Monks was known as Mack in the community, however.
Nellie became a milliner by trade and owned her own shop in Pinckney. Officially her shop was known as "Gardner Millinary," Unofficially, it was called the "Petite Boutique." She was the the long-time Putnam Township clerk, and worked for the post office for 15 years. She was the pianist/organist at St. Mary's Catholic Church for 45 years. She was also a talented singer who trained professionally in both instrumental and vocal music.
Nellie was extremely friendly and outgoing. She was a social butterfly with tons of friends. She was constantly coming and going with her cousin Fannie Monks, always entertaining or being entertained someplace.
She belonged to every club that a person could belong to. In WWI she was chairman of the Red Cross and in charge of the yarn fund. The volunteers knit mufflers, sweaters, mittens, and hats for all the Pinckney soldiers. The items were made of fatigue-colored yarn.
She kept in close contact with all her Harris aunts, uncles, and cousins, and was a loyal family member. Nellie and Fannie were always included in the reunions of the children of Henry B. and Eliza Gardner, too.
Nellie never married. She is buried in this cemetery with the Monkses -- Aunt Maggie, Uncle Jim, Fannie, and Mollie, and nearby the mother she loved but never knew.
Her death certificate records her as Helen E. Gardner.
Nellie was raised by her aunt and uncle, Margaret (Gardner) and Damascus Monks. In the family they were known as Aunt Maggie and Uncle Jim. Damascus Monks was known as Mack in the community, however.
Nellie became a milliner by trade and owned her own shop in Pinckney. Officially her shop was known as "Gardner Millinary," Unofficially, it was called the "Petite Boutique." She was the the long-time Putnam Township clerk, and worked for the post office for 15 years. She was the pianist/organist at St. Mary's Catholic Church for 45 years. She was also a talented singer who trained professionally in both instrumental and vocal music.
Nellie was extremely friendly and outgoing. She was a social butterfly with tons of friends. She was constantly coming and going with her cousin Fannie Monks, always entertaining or being entertained someplace.
She belonged to every club that a person could belong to. In WWI she was chairman of the Red Cross and in charge of the yarn fund. The volunteers knit mufflers, sweaters, mittens, and hats for all the Pinckney soldiers. The items were made of fatigue-colored yarn.
She kept in close contact with all her Harris aunts, uncles, and cousins, and was a loyal family member. Nellie and Fannie were always included in the reunions of the children of Henry B. and Eliza Gardner, too.
Nellie never married. She is buried in this cemetery with the Monkses -- Aunt Maggie, Uncle Jim, Fannie, and Mollie, and nearby the mother she loved but never knew.
Her death certificate records her as Helen E. Gardner.
Nellie was the daughter of Sarah Eleanor "Nell" Harris (also known as "Ellen") and Dr. Charles W. Gardner. Nellie was born in Exeter Twp in Monroe County where her father practiced medicine; her mother died the day after she was born.
Nellie was raised by her aunt and uncle, Margaret (Gardner) and Damascus Monks. In the family they were known as Aunt Maggie and Uncle Jim. Damascus Monks was known as Mack in the community, however.
Nellie became a milliner by trade and owned her own shop in Pinckney. Officially her shop was known as "Gardner Millinary," Unofficially, it was called the "Petite Boutique." She was the the long-time Putnam Township clerk, and worked for the post office for 15 years. She was the pianist/organist at St. Mary's Catholic Church for 45 years. She was also a talented singer who trained professionally in both instrumental and vocal music.
Nellie was extremely friendly and outgoing. She was a social butterfly with tons of friends. She was constantly coming and going with her cousin Fannie Monks, always entertaining or being entertained someplace.
She belonged to every club that a person could belong to. In WWI she was chairman of the Red Cross and in charge of the yarn fund. The volunteers knit mufflers, sweaters, mittens, and hats for all the Pinckney soldiers. The items were made of fatigue-colored yarn.
She kept in close contact with all her Harris aunts, uncles, and cousins, and was a loyal family member. Nellie and Fannie were always included in the reunions of the children of Henry B. and Eliza Gardner, too.
Nellie never married. She is buried in this cemetery with the Monkses -- Aunt Maggie, Uncle Jim, Fannie, and Mollie, and nearby the mother she loved but never knew.
Her death certificate records her as Helen E. Gardner.
Nellie was raised by her aunt and uncle, Margaret (Gardner) and Damascus Monks. In the family they were known as Aunt Maggie and Uncle Jim. Damascus Monks was known as Mack in the community, however.
Nellie became a milliner by trade and owned her own shop in Pinckney. Officially her shop was known as "Gardner Millinary," Unofficially, it was called the "Petite Boutique." She was the the long-time Putnam Township clerk, and worked for the post office for 15 years. She was the pianist/organist at St. Mary's Catholic Church for 45 years. She was also a talented singer who trained professionally in both instrumental and vocal music.
Nellie was extremely friendly and outgoing. She was a social butterfly with tons of friends. She was constantly coming and going with her cousin Fannie Monks, always entertaining or being entertained someplace.
She belonged to every club that a person could belong to. In WWI she was chairman of the Red Cross and in charge of the yarn fund. The volunteers knit mufflers, sweaters, mittens, and hats for all the Pinckney soldiers. The items were made of fatigue-colored yarn.
She kept in close contact with all her Harris aunts, uncles, and cousins, and was a loyal family member. Nellie and Fannie were always included in the reunions of the children of Henry B. and Eliza Gardner, too.
Nellie never married. She is buried in this cemetery with the Monkses -- Aunt Maggie, Uncle Jim, Fannie, and Mollie, and nearby the mother she loved but never knew.
Her death certificate records her as Helen E. Gardner.
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