Betty Miller Hardin

Betty Jayne Miller Hardin of Magnolia, Ark., died at the age of 82 on Saturday, Aug. 6, at Village Health Care at The Glen in Shreveport, La. She was born on Sept. 27, 1928 in Haynesville, La. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Leon Hardin; parents, Clint and Beulah (Roberson) Miller; and sisters, Marie Miller Threlkeld, Marilyn Miller, and Phyllis Miller (infant). A Haynesville High School graduate, she was the 1948 class valedictorian at Northwestern State College and completed a masters degree in speech therapy at the University of Illinois by the age of 20. Upon her arrival in Magnolia in 1951, she practiced privately and later taught speech at Southern State College (SAU). Her devout faith sustained her throughout her life, and she was a dedicated and faithful Sunday School teacher at Central Baptist Church for many, many years. She was also an active leader in the WMU and various other committees. She battled rheumatoid arthritis for most of her adult life and spent many years as an active volunteer for the Arthritis Foundation. Despite this crippling disease, she was determined to honor commitments to faith, family and friends. She is survived by her son, Scott and wife Deena of Magnolia; daughters Lisa and husband Andy Siegel of Texarkana, Ark., Gina and husband Max Hahnel of Shreveport, La.; grandchildren, Morgan and husband Wes Pounds of Texarkana, Ark., Taylor Ingram of Fayetteville, Ark., Brock Hahnel and Haley and husband Rob Riley of Shreveport, La., Miller Hardin of College Station, Texas, and Afton Hardin of Magnolia; and great-grandchildren Davis and Lexie Pounds, and Lorelei Hardin. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Central Baptist Church with Dr. Mike Seabaugh officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Lewis Funeral Home Inc. of Magnolia. Family visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Central Baptist Church, the Arthritis Foundation, or The Glen Retirement System, 403 E. Flournoy Lucas, Shreveport, La., 71115. Pallbearers will be Brock Hahnel, Miller Hardin, Taylor Ingram, Max Hahnel, Andy Siegel, Wes Pounds, and Rob Riley. Honorary pallbearers will be Louis Blanchard and Jack Marshall. www.lewisfuneralhome.biz.