Kay Yvonne Gardner

Kay Y. Gardner, 72, of Noblesville, Indiana passed away on Thursday, September 11, 2025 surrounded by her daughter, son, and a sweet dog Chevy. A remarkable and strong woman, Kay bravely ended her fight with multiple myeloma. Born on September 22, 1952, in Washington, Iowa, Kay was raised by her parents Donna and Olen Gardner. She attended Ottumwa High School and later pursued her passion for landscape architecture at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. On November 19, 1968, at the young age of 16, Kay married Philip Crable in Ottumwa, Iowa. Together, they blessed the world with two children: Angela (Jim) Noble and Justin (Jodi) Crable. Kay’s life was marked by various roles, including property management, student loan support specialist, landscape nursery worker, and financial service representative. Her greatest professional achievement was founding her successful residential landscape company – Urban Farm Girls, which she ran with the help of her daughter Angela for many years. Kay, a devoted mother and grandmother, spent her retirement years tending to her garden, her home, and cherishing the company of her beloved dog, Chevy. She loved puzzles, playing board games with her grandsons, especially Scrabble and Mexican Train Game. She often cooked with her daughter for impromptu family dinners and enjoyed going out to dinner with friends and family, especially for Mexican or Greek cuisine. She was also the matriarchal DIY fixer for the family and would be game to help solve and fix anything. She enjoyed traveling, especially to see her granddaughters and anywhere with sunshine and a beach! She checked off two “bucket list” travels, Hawaii in 2018 and Greece and Italy in 2023! Kay was a resourceful woman who was excellent at gardening and always had a perfect yard with many beautiful annuals and perennials. She was also an exceptional cook and winemaker, known for her feisty demeanor and love for making edgy comments. Kay’s absence will be deeply felt by her son, Justin (Jodi) Crable; daughter, Angela (Jim) Noble; dog, Chevy; grandsons, Dylan and Miles; and granddaughters, Stella and Scarlett; all of whom made her very proud. As Kay bravely fought multiple myeloma cancer for the past two years, let us send our heartfelt prayers and support to all those currently battling their own battles with cancer. The family is thankful for Brighton Hospice and all of their staff, but especially Jen. Thanks to Dr. Prasad, Dr. Lee, Dr. Sinha, Dr. Suvannasankha, The Schwartz Cancer Center and the Simon Cancer Center for all of their kind assistance and loving care throughout this journey. Finally, a big thank you to Shirley Brothers Mortuaries & Crematory for the incredible respect we were shown by all of their staff. In accordance with Kay’s wishes, there will be no formal service, but rather a private celebration of life among her family.

Tributes

Kay Yvonne Gardner

September 22, 1952 - September 11, 2025