AUBURN – Eleanor Margaret Christie Gardner, 98, passed away Monday, May 25, at Clover Manor in Auburn.

She was born in East Limington on July 16, 1910, the daughter of Charles Sumner and Addie Foss Christie. She attended Limington Academy her freshman year and transferred to Standish High School, graduating as salutatorian of the Class of 1927. Eleanor acquired her teaching certificate from Gorham Normal School and taught all eight grades in a one-room schoolhouse in Hollis for several years.

On Sept. 9, 1931, Eleanor eloped to Portsmouth, N.H., where she married her husband of 55 years, Ralph L. Gardner. Mr. Gardner died Dec. 29, 1986.

The family lived in Westbrook during the 1930s and ’40s, moving to Auburn in 1947. For many years prior to her retirement, she worked as a substitute teacher as well as in local shoe shops and at Hood’s Mailing and Printing. She was active as a Sunday school teacher and member of Stevens Mills Church in Auburn, later transferring to the East Auburn Baptist Church.

Despite suffering from acute arthritis and osteoporosis in her later life, her delightful wit and strong spirit was a joy to family and friends. For the past seven years, she had been a resident of Clover Manor where she befriended many residents and staff members with her upbeat manner. She and the family are very grateful to the Clover staff and especially Anita, Elaine and “the Freddies.”

Eleanor is survived by two sons, David C. Gardner and companion, Jean Crowell, of Poland, and his children, daughter, Tracey and husband, Jeff Marquis, of Greene, son, Scott and wife, Sue Gardner, of Arnold, Md., son, James Gardner and wife, Jean, of Livermore Falls, and daughter, Kate and husband, Michael Sutherland, of Warwick, R.I.; Eleanor’s son Robert H. Gardner and companion, Sheila Plummer, of Auburn, and his children, Susan Gardner and husband, Thomas Gosselin, of Livermore Falls, Tobin Gardner and wife, Michelle Gardner, of Portland, Lisa Gardner and companion, Scott Albert, of Winthrop, Benjamin Gardner and wife, Karen Gardner, of Dover, Mass., and Kathryn Gardner and husband, Michael Newsom, of South Paris; Eleanor’s daughter-in-law, Carol B. Gardner of Silver Springs, Md.; great-grandchildren, Jacob, Alexander and Bailey Marquis, Lindsay and Trevor Gardner, Craig Gardner and companion, Erica Turcotte, Cameron and Chase, Isabel, Elizabeth and Alexander Gardner, and Olivia Grace Gardner Newsom; one great-great-grandchild, Jordan Gardner; and many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Gardner was predeceased by a brother, Philip, of Westbrook; and a sister, Esther, of Bath.