James Baxton Hardy
(September 11, 1939 - August 20, 2007)
James Baxton "Jim" Hardy, 67, of Russellville, AR, died Monday, August 20, 2007 at his home. The son of Wilber Marco and Reba Mae Gawf Hardy, he was born September 11, 1939 in Centerville, Arkansas in Faulkner County. James was a 1958 graduate of Russellville High School and attended Arkansas Polytechnic College. He married Marilyn Walters on November 20, 1959 at First Baptist Church in Russellville. James worked as a brick mason for many years before going to work for the Pope County Sheriff's Office. His career in law enforcement spanned 32 years, beginning as a dispatcher and then as a Sergeant in the Criminal Investigation Division at the time of his retirement in 2006.
James was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of Russellville Masonic Lodge #274, a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Fort Smith and a member of the Scimitar Shrine Temple in Little Rock. He served as Chapter Dad for the Arkansas Valley Order of DeMolay for boys in the 1970's. He was preceded in death by his father; his paternal grandparents, Dr. H.B. and Cora Hardy of Greenbrier and his maternal grandparents, James Monroe and Stella Allen Gawf of Russellville.
Survivors include, his wife Marilyn Walters Hardy of Russellville; three sons & two daughters-in law, Dexter Alan Hardy & his wife, Laura of Gum Log, James Marco "Mark" Hardy and Renee Blackwell of Dillon, Arkansas, Randall Keith "Randy" Hardy & wife Terri of Russellville; eight grandchildren, Kristen Nicole Hardy of Pottsville, Randall Keith Hardy, Jr. of Russellville, William Baxton Hardy of Russellville, James Robert Hardy of Pottsville, Louis Alan Hardy of Gum Log, James Marco Hardy, Jr. of Atkins, Christopher Fairfield of Little Rock , and Sky Page Blackshear of California; five Great Grandchildren; his mother, Reba Gawf Hudson of Russellville.
Funeral will be at 10 AM Saturday, August 25, 2007 at First Baptist Church. Rev. Tommy Havens, Rev. Paul Northcut, and Rev. Frank Richter will officiate. Burial will be at Rest Haven Memorial Park at Russellville by Humphrey Funeral Service. Masonic Rites will be provided by the Russellville Masonic Lodge. Visitation will be 6-8:00 pm Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Arkansas Sheriff's Youth Ranches, PO Box 3964, Batesville, AR 72503 or Arkansas Dept of Health Hospice, 404 N. El Paso, Russellville, AR 72801