Lora Ruth Hardin 1925-2018
Lora Ruth Hardin of Blue, formerly of Canton, passed away Aug. 9, 2018, in her home on the “Wright Place” in Lee County at the age of 93 years.
A memorial service was held Sunday, Aug. 19, at Eubanks Funeral Home Chapel in Canton.
She was born in Onalaska on July 17, 1925 to Lemual Austin McPhail and wife Minie Pearl Johson McPhail and later moved near Canton.
She was born the fourth of five children and worked on a family farm alongside her parents and siblings until she graduated from high school.
While working in a sand field in Van Zandt County one day, she first met O. B. Hardin who would later become her husband.
They again met a few years later when they boarded the same bus in Dallas and were married soon thereafter on Dec. 8, 1945.
She and O. B. were married 59 years and moved around East Texas as he served as pastor of country Methodist churches.
To their marriage two children were born, Vernon Royce Hardin and Linda Sharron Hardin Wright.
She served faithfully as a dedicated pastor’s wife for all the years of her husband’s ministry. She was also a committed mother and homemaker, a great cook, and a talented seamstress, often making clothes for her family and for others in the communities where they lived.
She was an avid sports fan, often staying up late to watch a game even into her 90’s. She was also an accomplished domino player.
Mexican Train was her favorite game and she won her final game on the day before she died with her trademark bright blue-eyed smile.
After their children were grown, she and O.B. moved to Canton where he pastored Moore Methodist Church and they worked long hard days as truck farmers.
O. B. raised about 30 acres of vegetables with one 1950 Model Farmal tractor. She bathed in a wash tub and slept in a bobtail truck by night at the Dallas Farmers Market and sold vegetables by day while O.B. drove back and forth picking and delivering the produce. It was a labor of love they both thoroughly enjoyed.
She was preceded in death by her husband, O.B. Hardin, her brothers, Ray McPhail and Leland McPhail, and her sister, Leta Rue McPhail Cooper.
Left to treasure and cherish her memory are her children, Royce Hardin and wife, Mary, of Lantana and Linda Hardin Wright and husband, Mike Wright, of Blue.
She is also survived by her brother, Kenneth McPhail, and wife, Donna, of Sun City Georgetown, grandchildren Kendall Hardin of Oakwood, Jason Hardin of Oakwood, Mary Anne O’Brien of Colorado Springs, Co., Jenny O’Brien Buhl of Frisco, Matt Wright of Cedar Park, and Dana Wright of Elgin, and 14 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the charity of your choice with acknowledgement to Linda Wright, 1340 CR 307, McDade, 78650.
