Mary Lou McGhee Hardisty

A Private Family Graveside Service will be held at Laurel Land – Rose Hill Memorial Park.

A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, June 22, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the Trinity Cumberland Presbyterian Church, located at 7120 W. Cleburne Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76133.

Mary Lou was known for the lovely smile she always wore and a hello and kind word to all she met. Once your birthday was on her calendar you were assured of receiving a card with good wishes every year. She was the neighborhood mom whose home was always open to all the friends of her children, whether it was staying for a meal, croquet tournaments in the backyard, games and puzzles indoors, making cookies or impromptu sleep overs. Her absence will be keenly felt, and she will be dearly missed as we hold her in our hearts. "To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die." - Thomas Campbell

Her family moved to Fort Worth in the 1930s where she graduated from Polytechnic High School in 1944. While working at the Texas Employment Commission she met husband Kenneth whom she married June 8, 1947. They were married 43 years.

Mary Lou was a lifelong reader who filled her house with books and shared her love of books with family and friends. She was a proud member and supporter of the North Richland Hills Library for over 60 years. She loved sewing and crafts, making items for her home, family and friends. A frequent patron of music, art and theater events, she shared and fostered that interest in her children and grandchildren.

She began her spiritual journey as a young girl becoming a member of the Presbyterian church. As a long time member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, she served as an Elder, taught Sunday school, Vacation Bible school and Bible classes, made sandwiches, always serving as needed. She was a longstanding and active member of the Mid-Cities Christian Women's Connection where she made many close and loving friends.

The backyard was her sanctuary, filled with trees, flowering bushes, all shades of iris and roses with herbs tucked in here and there, along with swings and bird feeders, her friends the birds and her nemesis the squirrel. She enjoyed the care of it and the relaxation there afterward.

She is preceded in death by her husband Kenneth L. Hardisty, Sr., son Ronald Lynn "Ron" Hardisty, brother H.W. "Bud" McGhee, Jr. and sister-in-law Maxine McGhee, father H.W. McGhee, Sr., and mother Octa LaFern Vandagriff McGhee.

She is survived by her children: Cathy Hardisty Roberts and husband Larry; son Ken Hardisty, Jr. and wife Shirley; son Rev. Randy Hardisty and wife Lola; grandchildren: Justin Hardisty and wife Franci; Brett Hardisty; Lindsay Hardisty Batt and husband William; Ryan Hardisty and wife Lisa; and Jake Hardisty and wife Chan; great-grandchildren: Holly Hardisty; Kayne Hardisty, Garrett Hardisty, Blake Hardisty, Landry Hardisty and Chipper Hardisty and daughters-in-law Donna Hardisty and Joy Hardisty. She is also survived by bonus family grandchildren: Kimberly Eyler, Jennifer Gonzalez and husband Lucio; great-grandchildren: Benjamin Maxwell and wife Cassie; Andrew Maxwell and wife So-Van; Kristopher Maxwell and wife Kyndal; Garrett Elyar and wife Adrianna; Dillon Sibley and wife Alexa; Jackson Maxwell; Megan Maxwell; great-great grandchildren: Naomi, Henry, Nolan and Cooper Maxwell.

The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the wonderful teams of caregivers at New Century Hospice, Avir at Weatherford and 12Blue at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital for their exceptional care, compassion and support provided to "Miss Mary Lou" and her family during the final days of her life.

Please join us in celebrating Mary Lou's life Monday evening June 22, 2026, at 6 pm at Trinity Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 7120 W Cleburne Rd, Fort Worth. At her request, in lieu of flowers donations in memory of Mary Lou Hardisty may be made to Trinity Cumberland Presbyterian Church at the address above.