Beatrice Irene Hardin

Beatrice Irene (Gorman) Hardin, 89, of Bolivar, Missouri, passed away peacefully the evening of January 5, 2018.

Beatrice was born the youngest of five children on February 6, 1928, to Benjamin H. Gorman and Susie A. (Hill) Gorman in Oklahoma City.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Verl “Bud” Hardin; son, Donald Allen Hardin; daughter, Shirley (Hardin) Crews; two brothers, Francis Hubert Gorman and Gilbert Kyle Gorman; two sisters, Erma Corene (Gorman) Greene and Iva Hazel (Gorman) Seay.

Beatrice is survived by her three grandchildren; six great grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren; and three generations of nieces and nephews.

“Aunt Bea” worked for El Paso Electric Co. for over twenty years, and excelled in several supervisory positions. She retired with her son, Donald, on a small cattle farm in Walnut Grove, Missouri.

After 10 years enduring many hard winters, they relocated to Bolivar, Missouri, so they could be closer to the excitement of a larger town.

Donald began work for the Bolivar Police Department and Beatrice enjoyed supporting the police and fire department, local politics, crossword puzzles, and gardening. Their home was always a haven of comfort, good food and quiet visiting.

The highlight of her years in Bolivar was entertaining family when they came to visit. Beatrice was a loving wife, devoted mother, cat lover and cherished Aunt, who genuinely cared for all those she encountered.

She was a fabulous cook and a scholar of classic literature, antiques and history. Her proudest post-career accomplishment was tracing and documenting her family genealogy to the Algonquin Princess, Pocahontas. She also traced heritage beyond the ocean to the European families in Scotland, England and Ireland.

Beatrice “Aunt Bea” Hardin left a legacy of cherished memories and will be fondly remembered by all who knew her. Ms. Hardin was laid to rest on Friday, January 19, 2018, at Greenwood Cemetery in Bolivar, Missouri.