Marilyn Joyce (Gee) Hardwick passed away Dec. 3, 2024 at Sequoyah East Nursing Center in Roland and was born in Marion County, Indiana Dec. 10, 1932 to Foster and Emma (Adams) Gee.
Funeral service is 11 a.m. Dec. 20, 2024 in the Dowden-Roberts Cremation Center Chapel in Poteau, with her grandsons Jeremy and Joshua Hardwick officiating. Burial will follow at 1 p.m. in the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas, under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Cremation Center of Poteau.
She was the middle child of three, with two brothers. While growing up on their family farm, she learned the value of hard work and the importance of family. During high school, she met her lifelong companion, Floyd Hardwick. After graduating high school, she moved to Indianapolis, Indiana for work while her fiancé, Floyd went to the Navy and was deployed overseas. She and Floyd were married by a Navy chaplain in San Diego, California Aug. 14, 1952. They were happily married for 63 ½ years until Floyd’s passing in 2016.
She accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at the age of 25. She has been a faithful servant for all her years, serving as a Sunday School teacher, church bus ministry volunteer, and in many other areas.
They raised their three sons in Indiana during the 50’s and 60’s until they felt the call of God and moved to Kansas, Oklahoma in 1976. There, they served at Cookson Hills Christian Ministries Children’s Home. For 12 years, they had anywhere from three-12 children in their home at all times. She taught the young women regular household chores like cooking, sewing,and washing clothes.
In 1988, they moved to Rogers, Arkansas. After a few years of working in a local hospital kitchen, she began working as a park attendant with her husband for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
In 1998, they moved to Shady Point, where they became faithful members of the Poteau Church of Christ. They both loved their church home and helped organize the monthly fellowship game night and she also enjoyed serving at the church food pantry.
She loved playing games with family and friends. Her kids and grandkids always looked forward to the holidays because they knew Grandma would always have a Charles Chips tin can full of monster cookies and several pumpkin pies. To pass the time, you could find her working on a puzzle, doing yard work, creating a quilt for a loved one, or walking around her property after she did her daily Bible reading.
She is survived by two sons Jeff Hardwick and wife Charmaine of Roanoke, Texas, and David Hardwick and wife Lynnet of Van Buren, Arkansas; a daughter-in-law, Tresa Hardwick of Abilene, Texas; her younger brother Claire Gee and wife Sue of Bloomington, Indiana; her grandchildren Jeremy Hardwick and wife Lauren, Jared Hardwick and wife Melissa, Joshua Hardwick and wife Joann, Jaci Hardwick, Caleb Hardwick and wife Maddie, Claire Hardwick and Connor Hardwick; 12 great-grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other loved ones, and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Foster Marion and Emma (Adams) Gee; her husband, Floyd C. Hardwick; one son, James Leon Hardwick; and one brother, Donald Eugene Gee.
Pallbearers are family members.
Viewing is from noon until 8 p.m. Tuesday with the family visiting with friends from 6 until 8 p.m. at 28918 205th. Avenue in Poteau.
To view Marilyn’s online guestbook, www.dowdenrobertsfuneralhome.com.
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