Troy Jackson Hardin

Hardin, Troy J., “TJ”, age 95 years 9 months 13 days, master of fly rod and dry fly, maker of dulcimers, grower of massive tomatoes, player of country/bluegrass, hunter of deer, elk and antelope, lover of sausage gravy biscuit and country ham finally achieved his wish of a one way trip to Berry’s Wednesday evening, July 9, 2014. TJ was delivered to the once peaceful and bucolic Sevierville, TN on September 26, 1918 as son to Charles T. and Addie Mae Hardin joining brother James (all deceased). Sisters Mary (deceased) and Margaret (survives) completed the family in due course. An unrelenting, life-long tease he kept siblings and parents wondering what he would think of next. One 1939 Sunday he saw Pauline K. Line “PK” standing on the steps of Beech Springs Church in Kodak.

Right there he told his cousin Harlan “I’m going to marry her”, and on October 5, 1940 he did. They had 70 years of love and adventures until she passed September 20, 2009. WWII began for them in 1941 when TJ joined the 565th Signal Aircraft Warning Battalion in the South Pacific. Christmas Day 1945 saw their after the war years begin. These included; joining Southern Bell Telephone (retired 1976), building a home, having daughter, Jo Ann, attending Mt. Olive Baptist Church (member 75 years), traveling, camping and generally enjoying life. Left to miss him are daughter, Jo Ann Redwine (Steve); sister, Margaret Terry (Kenneth); several nieces and nephews; special friends, Debby and “the Rogers” Jackson, Jonathan Valezquez, Pearl McCurry, Louise Negus, Inna Karsheva, and Teodora Nedkova. Family and friends are invited to attend a graveside service at Alder Branch Baptist Church, 809 Alder Branch Road, Sevierville, TN on Saturday, July 12th at 11:00 am. Condolences may be offered at www.berryfuneralhome.com

Arrangements under the direction of Berry Funeral Home, Knoxville, TN.