SILVER SPRING, Md. – Carol Bailey Gardner passed away on June 10, 2026, at her home in Silver Spring, Md. While those who love her are grieving deeply, we could not be more grateful that she left us peacefully, at home, with her loving partner of 38 years, Ben Simon.

Carol grew up in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts with her parents Pauline and Lyle Bailey, her sisters Pauline Wheeler and Kathy D’Orio, and her brother, Jim Bailey.

Carol went to Pittsfield High School and attended Gordon College in Wenham, Mass. Before graduating, Carol married Bob Gardner, and started a family that includes five children, Susan, Tobin, Lisa, Ben and Kathryn. Though parenting could be exhausting and challenging, Carol said her kids “were the best things that ever happened to me.”

Along with orders to keep our elbows off the table and clean up our rooms, Carol instilled a love of music in her family. During days-long vacation trips to Yellowstone or the Badlands with a car crammed full of kids, Carol led her children in a concert of folk songs, likely keeping them from mauling each other. She was also a passionate member of the choirs at Court Street Baptist Church in Auburn, Maine and later at St. Mary Magdelene Episcopal Church in Silver Springs, Md.

Being of service to her church and her community were priorities for Carol. At St. Mary Magdelene, she served on the Altar Guild, was a member of the Daughters of the King, and volunteered for years in the church office. Carol was also a lead volunteer at the church thrift store, where a weekend of $200 in sales was “fine”, but over $400 was really worth bragging about.

Carol volunteered for the Girl Scouts in Minot, first serving as a leader for the Brownies, then Juniors, and finally Cadets.

When she wasn’t singing, raising kids or volunteering, Carol also worked for a living. She taught in the Lewiston school system, as well as in Minot, where several of her students have shared that she was a beloved teacher. After working on Olympia Snowe’s election campaign, Carol moved to the DC area to be Snowe’s office manager. Carol’s last job was with the Literacy Council of Montgomery County, teaching adults to read, write and speak English. When she retired, she continued in a volunteer capacity, where she was devoted to working one-on-one with immigrants as they pursued U.S. citizenship. She was so proud of every one of them.

Carol was an incredibly strong woman, loving mother and supporter of many. We will miss her.

She is survived by her partner, Ben Simon, his daughter Sandi Weddell and her family; Carol’s children Susan, Tobin (Michelle), Lisa (Scott Albert), Ben (Karen), and daughter, Kathryn (Michael Newsom); her ex-husband and friend, Bob Gardner and his partner Sheila Plummer; her loving siblings Pauline Wheeler and Kathy DiOrio; her beloved grandchildren include Isabel, Libby and Lex Gardner, Liv Newsom, Tessa Albert and step-grandson, Chris Harris; and great-grandchildren Isabella and Anna Harris; and, so many cherished nieces and nephews including Scott, Tracy, Randy, Sandy, Jim, Linda, Sharon, Kelly, Suzie and Brian.

She was predeceased by her brother, Jim Bailey; and nephew Jay Cassidy.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Carol at the First Congregational Church of Dalton (Massachusetts) on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. (514 Main St.). Directly after the celebration service, there will be a very brief graveside gathering at Ashuelot Cemetery in Dalton, Mass. (40 Gulf Road). And, the Celebration of Life will continue afterward with a gathering for music, stories and food. The location is to be determined and will be updated here.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Carol’s honor to

Classroom2Community

where Carol volunteered.

Donations can be made online at https://asgvqbth.donorsupport.co/page/Donate

or checks payable to

Classroom2Community

and mailed to:

21 Maryland Ave. #320

Rockville, MD 208850