James Hardesty

James "Jim" Hardesty, age 50, of Paola, formerly of Parker, Kansas, passed away on Thursday, January 28, 2010, at the Golden Living Center in Spring Hill, Kansas. He was born on December 4, 1959 at Garnett, Kansas, the son of Carl and Joyce (Ashburn) Hardesty. He graduated from Prairie View High School in LaCygne, Kansas. After graduation, he went to work for the Rock Island Railroad in 1979, this company dissolved and Jim moved to Oklahoma to work in the oil fields. He returned to Garnett in 1982 and worked for the Garnett Power Water Plant as a treatment operator for over 13 years. He also worked for Parker Truss and Browns Hardware. He married Debbie Sullivan in 1981 at Enid, Oklahoma; this union was blessed with one daughter, Jami. Debbie passed away in 1987. Jim loved to be outside working in the garden, fishing, and four wheeling. He enjoyed putting up hay and riding motorcycles. He had built a Harley from the ground up. Jim had a love for music, especially blues music. He also sang in the church choir at the Methodist Church at Garnett. Jim loved art, from drawing, to crafts, to woodworking. He helped his sister build her home; he also loved to make beautiful wooden furniture. He loved to laugh. Jim was proud of his daughter and grandchildren, loving all children, was what Jim was about. Jim was preceded in death by his wife Debbie, in 1987, and his father, Carl Hardesty on December 31, 2000. He is survived by his daughter, Jami Hardesty, of Paola, Kansas; his mother, Joyce Hardesty, of Paola, Kansas; three sisters, Carla Brocker and husband Mike of Parker, Kansas; Jonee Hardesty of LaCygne, Kansas; Colette Gillespie and husband Mike of Gardner, Kansas; three grandchildren, Karlee Tarter, Kayden James Tarter, and Kyndon Tarter; six nieces and nephews, Tiarra, Ashley, Robert, Dustyn, Kenna, and Bridget; and three great nieces and nephews, Eejay, Kyran, and Dawsyn. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, February 1, 2010, at the First United Methodist Church in Garnett, Kansas, visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday prior to the service time at the church. Burial will follow at the Parker Cemetery in Parker, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association. You may send your condolences to the family at our website at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .