Mary Lou Gardner, 81, of Dunbar, went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior, surrounded by her loving family at home, Tuesday August 25, 2009. She was the Assistant Clerk of the House of Delegates serving for 39 years and also worked with Legislative Services from its inception in 1965 until she retired in 1987. She was also a member of the Charleston Mountain Mission Church, where she sang in the choir. She had a unique outlook on life which will be missed. She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Norah Miller Cottrill; grandson, Cody Steelhammer; and nephew, Jim Cottrill, Jr. Surviving are; her husband of 61 years, William H. Gardner; daughters and sons-in-law, Pam Gardner-Steelhammer and Rick Steelhammer of Cross Lanes, Sandi Gardner-Wood and Joseph Wood of Denver, Colorado; grandchildren, Nick Steelhammer and Chelsea Steelhammer. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, August 29, at Charleston Mountain Mission Church, with the Rev. Fairley McCormick officiating. Burial will be in Grandview Cemetery, Dunbar. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home and one hour prior to funeral services Saturday at Charleston Mountain Mission Church. Online condolences may be sent to the family at cpj funeral home.com. Those who wish may send memorials in her name to the Cody Steelhammer fund at Charleston Catholic High School, 1033 Virginia Street, Charleston, WV 25301. The fund provides resources for Project Hope, a program in which current and former students winterize and rebuild homes for people in need in Clay County. Cunningham-Parker-Johnson Funeral Home is serving the Gardner family.