Betty Anne Hardy

She graduated from Claymont High School, Claymont, Delaware, and Columbia Bible College in Columbia, South Carolina in 1947.

In 1948, she drove cross country alone in an English Ford from Claymont, Delaware, to the Navajo Bible School and Mission in Window Rock, Arizona, to become a missionary to the Navajo Indians.

She married Paul B. Hardy, a rancher from Crystal, New Mexico, in 1950, and from that marriage, they had 4 children, Stephen (1952), Becky (1953), Linda and Lois (1955). In 1958, they moved to Grants, New Mexico, where Paul worked at Homestake Mining Company as a crusher foreman at the mill in Milan, New Mexico.

She was an accomplished pianist and used her exceptional musical talents on the mission field and as pianist for almost 50 years at the First Baptist Church in Grants, New Mexico. She also taught piano and had many students.

In 1971, she started working as Secretary to the Principal at Grants High School and, after many years, moved on to the School District Office until retirement in the mid 1980’s. During this time, she lovingly cared for her husband, who had become disabled in a 1973 work accident, until his death in 1990.

Her widowed mother, Anna Banks, came to live with Betty and her family in 1964 until Anna’s death in 1993. After 14 years of living alone, she moved to Manchaca, Texas, in July of 2007, to live with her daughter, Linda, and son-in-law, Bob.

She was a member of Bannockburn Baptist Church for 6 years and was involved in the senior activities there, which included the Ladies 5 Joy Class, and assisted for a time as pianist for Chuck Davis, Senior Adults Pastor.

She died on Wednesday, September 11, 2013, at St. David’s South Austin Hospital following a brief illness.

She is survived by her children, Stephen Hardy (Donna) of Grants, NM, Becky Holland (Reggie) of Abilene, TX, Linda Sarrels (Bob) of Manchaca, TX, and Lois McGhee of Austin, TX; her grandchildren, April Montoya (Andrew) of Buda, TX, Kamden Sarrels (John) of Manchaca, TX, Staci Gogerty (Mark) of Buda, TX, Kayci Temple (Richard) of Austin, TX, Kelli Goree (Jason) of Weatherford, TX, Cory Holland (Amy) of Abilene, TX, Zachary Sarrels of Austin, TX, Matthew Hardy of Milan, NM, Carl Marquez (Vanessa) of Grants, NM, Chase Hardy (Jennica) of Milan, NM, Alyssa Marquez of Albuquerque, NM, and Anna Guzman (Eric) of Milan, NM. She is also survived by 16 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Paul, and her son-in-law, Bobby Ray McGhee, Jr.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, September 13, 2013 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 14, 2013 at Bannockburn Baptist Church. Graveside services will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Betty to the Music Ministry of Bannockburn Baptist Church, 7100 Brodie Lane, Austin, Texas 78745.