Jessie Marguerite Hardin

Jessie Marguerite Hardin, 96, of Mtn. Grove, Missouri, passed away on February 23, 2008 in the Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston, Missouri. She was born to John and Sarah (Holsinger) Greenlaw on December 18, 1911 in Flora, Illinois.
Jessie graduated from North High School in Des Moines, Iowa in 1929 and was united in marriage to Clifford Farley Hardin later that year on July 29. Together they shared a loving, committed marriage of nearly fifty-nine years. Ten children were born to this union: John, Mary, Hugh, Ruth, Rose, Jane, Ross, Lee, Virginia, and Ellen. Clifford passed away on May 30, 1988.
Jessie was a loving wife and mother. In a letter to her husband she once wrote, “I’m sure I’ve loved our children as much as any mother on earth, but you are the great love of my life.” Theirs was a romance that inspires us to this day.
She was a person who valued education. She was an avid reader who enjoyed discussing politics and current events and was a frequent contributor of editorials to The Springfield News Leader.
She was an empathetic and caring person who believed in doing what she could to help those around her who were in need. She volunteered with the Literary Council, where she taught children how to read. In her early eighties, she was proud to serve as a hospice volunteer, caring for older folks in the community and many whom were younger than she was at the time.
Jessie was a resourceful woman. Even in lean times, she had a special way of providing whatever her family needed. There was always room for one more person around the table; always a warm bed to sleep in; always a heart willing to do whatever she could to care for those she loved.
Besides her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her brother: J.P. Greenlaw; her sister: Helen Hendricks; her daughter: Mary Mastin; her daughter and son-in-law: Ruth and Veryl Gault; her daughter: Rose Thompson; her son and daughter-in-law: Ross and Linda Hardin.
She is survived by her sons: John Hardin and his wife, Lucille, of Mtn. Grove, Hugh Hardin and his wife, Elzina, of Keosauqua, Iowa, and Lee Hardin and his wife, Pat, of Houston, Texas; her daughters: Jane Hullinger and her husband, Richard, of Humeston, Iowa, Virginia Wagner and her husband, Randy, of Bethesda, Maryland, and Ellen Hardin of Steilacoom, Washington; 31 grandchildren; 56 great-grandchildren; 22 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends who will sadly miss her.
Funeral services for Jessie Hardin were held Thursday, February 28, 2008, 10:00 AM in the First Freewill Baptist Church, Mtn. Grove, with Rev. Gene Crewse officiating. Christy Hoagland sang “I Can Only Imagine,” and “Serenaded By Angels.” Serving as pallbearers were 8 of her grandchildren: Jim Kuder, Randy Hardin, Eric Hardin, Brian Kuder, Scott Gault, Rich Thompson, Andrew Hardin, and Matt Wagner. Serving as honorary pallbearers were 23 of her grandchildren: Marilee Walker, Barbara Gault, Richard Hardin, John David Kuder, Joe Kuder, Steve Kuder, Bruce Hardin, Clint Hardin, Cliff Hardin, Ed Hardin, Ruth Ann Hunter, Chester Gault, Pat Thompson, Gary Thompson, Cindy Throckmorton, Kathy Rice, Debbie Brackin, Rob Hardin, Lisa Wieskamp, Lynn Berzins, Adam Hardin, and Tim Hardin. Burial was in the Hillcrest Cemetery under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mtn. Grove, Missouri.


Funeral Services:
Thursday, February 28, 2008, 10:00 AM in the First Freewill Baptist Church, Mtn. Grove, Missouri.
Visitation:
Wednesday, February 27, 7:00 - 8:00 PM in the funeral home chapel.
Burial:
Hillcrest Cemetery
In lieu of flowers/donations to:
The Wright County Children's Home