John Hays Hardee
February 3, 1942 — March 7, 2017
John Hays Hardee, age 75, resident of Collierville and husband of the late Mary Smith Hardee, passed peacefully from this life early Tuesday morning, March 7, 2017 at the Baptist Reynolds Hospice House in Collierville after battling Parkinson’s Disease for almost two decades.
Services of Remembrance for Mr. Hardee were conducted at 3 P.M. Friday, March 10, 2017 at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Pastor Greg Spears officiating. A scripture reading was given by Thomas Wilson. Interment with Full Military Honors followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park on Highway 64. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center - West Chapel at Oakland.
Mr. Hardee was born February 3, 1942 in Tacoma Park, Maryland. He served his country in the United States Air Force for 22 years, retiring as an Air Force Master Sergeant. He continued his career at FedEx, retiring from there after an additional 20 years, where he worked as a Simulator Engineer. He was a member of Christ Community Baptist Church in Collierville and was a 3rd Degree Mason. Mr. Hardee had a zest for life and enjoyed going to plays, square dancing, trains, tractors, working and special times with his family.
Mr. Hardee is survived by four daughters, Pamela Papas of Shrewsbury, PA, Barbara Wilson (Jim) of Collierville, TN, Terry “Theresa” Bennett (Forrest) of Collierville, TN, Janice Dearen (Thomas) of Drummonds, TN; his son, Glen Hardee (Rhonda) of New Hill, NC; his sister, Marjorie Troiano of Baltimore, MD; ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Smith Hardee who died December 27, 1998; his parents, John Hardee and Edris Dodge Small; and his sister, Barbara Rider.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers were Daniel Finley, Jonathan Dearen, Glen Hardee, Forrest Bennett, Jim Wilson and Thomas Wilson.
The family requests that memorials be directed to the Baptist Reynolds Hospice House, 1520 W. Poplar Avenue, Collierville, TN 38017 or the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, 135 Parkinson Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305.