More detail on this person: Emmett R. "John" Hardee died on January 18, 2021, at the age of 76, in Temple, Texas, of pneumonia and COVID-19. John was born on July 7, 1944, in Durham, North Carolina, to Rudolph and Ruth Morton Hardee. He graduated from Chapel Hill High School in 1962, joined the Army, and served two tours in the Vietnam War in the Corps of Engineers and as a helicopter pilot. He was honorably discharged in 1973 and lived for a time in Catalonia, Spain, before moving to Austin to attend the University of Texas, graduating in 1977. He married Julie Arend in 1985, and together they had two children. Throughout the 1990s, John was a part-time realtor and full-time father to his children. In 1999, John began working for the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). He retired in 2008. John is survived by his two sons, Benjamin and Theodore; daughters-in-law Audrey and Claire; and grandchildren Maximilian, Alexander, and Theo. A brilliant and charismatic man, John left an enduring impression on virtually everyone he knew. He was a dutiful citizen, caring neighbor, and loving father. Everywhere John went, he was a friend to the people and animals he met. A memorial service will be held to honor John's life in February. The date and time of the memorial service are TBD. If you knew John and wish to attend, please contact bhardee@utexas.edu.
Burial information: Cremated
This information was last updated 01/30/2021
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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