Obituary: Millard Yvon "Wes" Hardy

Millard “Wes” Yvon Hardy passed away on Saturday, July 7, 2018, at the age of 83, in northeast Tennessee. Born in Arab, Alabama, to Elbert and Ada (Fleming) Hardy on March 31, 1935, he was the eighth of nine children.

Millard “Wes” was preceded in death by his parents, Elbert and Ada Hardy; his brothers, Fonda Hardy, Alvis Dalton Hardy and Billy Ray Hardy; and his sister, Etna Howard; his wife, Joan, in 2012; a newborn baby, Brenda Lee; his great-grandson, Brendan Hardy (a newborn); and many friends and relatives.

Wes is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Twyla Gaye Hardy Wallace (Earl E. Wallace), Emlenton Pennsylvania, Lori Yvonne Hill (Charles S. Hill) at home in Telford, Tennessee, Kimberly Renee Hardy of Church Hill, Tennessee; his sisters, Etha Hall and Elaine Creech of Winter Garden, Florida, and sister, Chloe Thornton, and brother, James (Marcie), of Ocoee, Florida; his grandchildren, Brandon Wesley Hardy (Heather Mahan Hardy), Paige Renee Hardy, Alexis Jordan Hill, Erica Tyler Hill and Sydney Lang Hill; his great-grandson, Jordan Hardy (adopted child of Brandon and Heather Hardy). Wes leaves behind a large number relatives and friends who loved him throughout his long life.

Millard moved to Ocoee, Florida, as a child. He left school at the age of 17. Soon after, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he was given the nickname “Wes.” After honorably serving, he returned to Ocoee with his new wife and first baby girl.

He later went on to complete his high school diploma and attended college classes while working for Martin Marietta.

In 1968, he moved with his family to the Pocono Mountains and lived in Shawnee-on-the-Delaware, Pennsylvania. He worked construction jobs and equipment sales until he secured a job as manager of an old-fashioned little general store in Shawnee. It was an idyllic life, with his family home adjacent to the store, where he could be a constant figure in his children’s lives.

The perks of the job included membership of the Shawnee Inn’s amenities. While he was the store manager, he also was the Assistant Postmaster in the attached post office and the Commissioner of Weights and Measures in his county and a volunteer firefighter in Shawnee.

He never seemed to tire or complain about providing for his family or contributing to his community.

When the store was sold in 1975, Wes moved the family back to Florida, where he worked for his sister and brother-in-law (Elaine and “Cooter” Creech) in their wholesale plant greenhouse business. A year later, he was offered a promising position by his sister-in-law’s new husband (Laurel and Dennis St Germain).

He accepted the position of Sales Manager for I&I Sling Co. and moved the family to Wilmington, Delaware. He enjoyed the travel and friendships made in this position until his retirement in 2005.

Soon after, he sold his property in Landenberg, Pennsylvania, and bought a log home in Telford, Tennessee.

Millard “Wes” married Joan Melva Langille in 1958 in Glenolden, Pennsylvania while serving in the Air Force and stationed in Dover, Delaware. They were happily married for 53 years. They were longtime members and third-grade Sunday school teachers at Ogletown Baptist Church in Newark, Delaware.

After moving to Tennessee, they became members of New Salem Baptist Church, in Limestone, Tennessee. Wes was a member of the Lions Club. 

He enjoyed board games, playing cards, fishing, wood crafts, gardening and an occasional golf game. He was always active and liked to learn new things about the world. He was an avid reader of National Geographic and the daily newspaper, always keeping his mind and body busy.

He was a loving caregiver to his wife during her illnesses.  

A Remembrance and Celebration will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in the fellowship hall of Starke Lake Baptist Church, 611 West Ave., Ocoee, FL 34761.  The family will be greeting friends and relatives.

A private burial will follow at a later date where he will join his wife, Joan, at New Salem Baptist Church cemetery in Limestone, Tennessee.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to New Salem Baptist Church, 421 Lester Snapp Road, Limestone, TN 37681.