Ethel Margaret Hardesty of Advance, Mo. passed away Friday, June 7, at Crowley Ridge Care Center in Dexter. She was 94 years old. Known by her loved ones as “Miss Ethel”, she was born in Hiram, Mo. on April 6, 1925 to George Wilfong and Ida Myrtle Wallace-Wilfong. Ethel Wilfong-Hardesty married Jasper Hardesty on July 10, 1946. Miss Ethel was a homemaker and a loving mother who enjoyed working in her garden in the summer and hand sewing beautiful quilts all year long.
Surviving immediate family includes a brother, Albert “Dude” Wilfong of Campbell, Mo., two sons, Roy Lee Hardesty of Dexter and Craig A. Hardesty of Cape Girardeau, two daughters, Shirley Margaret Payne of Hillsboro, Mo. and Wilma Dean (Tim) Watkins of Lexington In., three grandchildren, Scott (Gail) Payne, Connie (Dale) Gordon, and Amie (Doug) Duerstock, and seven great grandchildren, Levi, Bailey, James, Lane, Mollie, Caitlyn and Colton.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jasper Hardesty, her son, Stephen Hardesty, two brothers, Elza Wilfong and Lloyd Wilfong, and a sister, Myrtle Ruth (Ruthie) Wilfong.
Services will be held at Morgan Funeral Chapel in Advance, on Friday, June 14. Visitation will start at 10 a.m. and the funeral will follow at 1 p.m.. The service will be led by Jerry Waggoner, Elder and Lifegroup leader from Hillsboro Christian Church, followed by prayers at Cowan Cemetary. Heaven has received a precious gift.