Betty Louise Hardy

Betty Louise Hardy, age 86, of Coleman passed from this life on May 7, 2023, at Brookdale Assisted Living Facility, Durant, Oklahoma. Betty was born June 20, 1936, at Rock Creek, near Coleman, Oklahoma, to Clifton Leroy Hardy and Vearl (Higginbotham) Hardy. Betty grew up in Coleman and nearby communities, including Wapanucka, Wilson, Clarita, and Frances where she graduated from high school. Betty earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from East Central College in August 1957, and her Master’s in Teaching from Southeastern Oklahoma College in May 1963. Betty was also a woman of faith and served as a member of the Church of Christ in in her cities of residence including Richardson, Texas and Ardmore, Oklahoma. For her last 30+ years, she was a faithful member of the Church of Christ in Coleman, Oklahoma. Her working career was as an elementary school teacher starting in Bakersfield, California, and then in Richardson, Texas, and finally in Ardmore, Oklahoma, serving as a second grade teacher for most of those years. For several years at the end of her teaching career, Betty was a caregiver for her mother. She retired to Coleman to be near her family, especially her best friend and sister, Mary Rose Pannell. Betty enjoyed traveling and had many exciting experiences both in the U.S. and abroad. She loved to read, especially mystery novels, and loved discussing and sharing her books with friends and family. She liked to stay active and fit from an early age, participating in high school sports. Later took up tennis and art as her hobbies, leaving many lovely paintings for her family to enjoy and remember her by. She loved walking her beloved dogs: Beau, Nicki, Napoleon and Coco. Betty is preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Mary Rose (Hardy) Pannell and brother-in-law Don Pannell. Betty never married, but she was dearly loved by her family and friends. She will be greatly missed by her nieces and nephews: Mike Pannell and wife Penny of Coleman, Oklahoma; Donola Battles and husband Mike of Kiowa, Oklahoma; Dan Pannell and wife Neila of Overland Park, Kansas; Missy McDaniel and husband Grant of Coleman, Oklahoma and Matt Pannell and wife Michelle of Blanchard, Oklahoma. She also is beloved by her 14 great-nieces and nephews; and 25 great-great-nieces and nephews and many cousins. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, May 12, 2023 at the Coleman Church of Christ in Coleman, Oklahoma. Interment to follow at the Tishomingo Cemetery. Those serving as pallbearers will be James Pannell, Mike Battles, Kyle Shipman, Tyler Shipman, Dave Thornburg and Grant McDaniel.

Tributes

Betty Louise Hardy

June 20, 1936 - May 7, 2023