Gwendolyn Fern Ryan Baumgardner

Posted on June 1, 2021

Gwendolyn Fern Ryan Baumgardner, 86, passed away surrounded by the love of her family on May 27, 2021, after a lengthy illness.

She was born on Jan. 15, 1935, in Lake Butler to Elzie Cameron Ryan and Phyllis Norma Tolar Ryan. She was retired from the Taylor County School Board.

Gwen was a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She loved sewing and working in her yard.

She will always be remembered for her generosity, clever wit and her ability to make a joke and make everyone laugh.

She was a salt-of-the-earth woman who, if visited by Queen Elizabeth, would likely say “Nice crown. Now take that trash out please.”

She had unending love for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, often planting lollipop sticks for them to amazingly find they had grown into real lollipops the next time they visited.

She met her husband, Freeman, at a church peanut boil when she was 17 years old. They married young and began a wonderful journey together.

She was asked recently if they ever fought, and she responded “Yes, but we never went to bed mad. Sometimes we stayed up very late!”

Once, when arguing about how to spend a hard earned $20 bill, she threw it out of the car window and said “Now there’s nothing to argue about.”

She was preceded in death by: her husband, Freeman R. Baumgardner, and her siblings, Dennis Avon Burroughs, Yvonne Mae Burroughs Nieland, Edwina Yolanda Burroughs Moody, Venillia Hope Ryan Wheeler, Rupert Darl Ryan, Ewell Diltz Ryan, Hazel Eva Ryan Bailey Engle, John Pershing Ryan and Norma Jean Ryan Lyons.

She is survived by: her four children, Michael F. Baumgardner (Marilyn) of Perry, Cynthia A. Baumgardner Falb (Marty) of Tallahassee, Kedra S. Baumgardner (Eileen) of Tallahassee and Samuel L. Baumgardner (Brenda) of Perry; seven grandchildren, Stacey L. Baumgardner Kaiser (Wil) of Jacksonville, Spencer B. Baumgardner (Shayne) of Perry, Michael G. Andrews (Giegie) of Tallahassee, John H. Andrews of Perry, Keri B. Andrews Bennett (Jason) of Jacksonville, Dustin L. Baumgardner (Emalee) of Perry and Sarah M. Baumgardner of Perry; one brother, Anthony Kent Ryan of Thailand; five great-grandchildren; and a host of loving nieces and nephews.

She is also survived by seven step-grandchildren, Keely Jones Lago (Ryan), Clint Jones, Alex Falb (Chelsea), Nate Falb (Allison), Josh Keen, Jacob Brannan and Leah Brannan; and seven step-great-grandchildren.

Visitation was held at Crosspoint Baptist Church on Sunday, May 30, at 2 p.m., followed by funeral services at 3 p.m. with Brother Eddie Pridgeon officiating. A reception for family and friends was held at the church following the graveside internment at Pineview Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Big Bend Hospice.