Peggy Rae James Hardin

Peggy Rae James Hardin, 95, was born June 17, 1929, to Burt Durward James and Muriel Bell Craig in El Dorado, Arkansas. When she was 10, her brother, Jerry Pat James was born. Her family lived in Arkansas until she was 12 years old. During WWll the family moved to Monahans, Texas. Peggy played the piano and enjoyed playing the clarinet in the band. When she was 16 her brother, Durward Craig James was born. After graduating high school, she attended BYU for one year. Returning to Monahans, she met Murrel D Hardin, whom she married 5 months later in the Mesa, Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They welcomed 4 children, Melanie, Julia, Claire, and Timothy Mark. The family lived in a Cabot Oil Field Camp outside of Kermit, Texas for 8 years.

In April 1957 the family moved first to Gomez, then Brownfield, Texas. Tokio, Texas was next until in 1966 they moved to Andrews, Texas. In June 1972 a few weeks after Murrel, Peggy and Tim moved to West Virginia, Murrel was killed in a traffic accident. Peggy and Tim moved back to Andrews. In the early 1980’s Peggy served a mission in Arkansas. In the late 1980’s, Peggy sold her home in Andrews and moved across the street from her mom in Monahans. Her mom died at 99 years in 2008. Peggy was in Monahans until she had a health emergency in 2015 and was moved to Richardson, Texas where she lived in a senior apartment two miles from Melanie’s home. In 2019 she needed more care and was moved to Russellville, Arkansas to a nursing home. Claire and her family watched over her there until her death July 6, 2024.

Peggy loved family history, collecting jewelry, and pig decorations. She also loved music, crafts, quilting, and visiting with family in her RV. Word search puzzles were a big favorite and she tried to do them right up until the end.

She is survived by her children and their spouses: Melanie & Hollis Carver of Garland, Texas, Julia & Michael Christensen of Stevensville, Montana, Claire & Dale Bruce of Dover, Arkansas, and Tim & Julie Lynn Hardin of Logan, Utah. She was so proud of her 17 grandchildren, 56 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by many loved nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, cousins and friends.

Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 15, 2024 at Ruggles Wilcox Chapel.  Services will follow at 2:00 p.m.  

Burial will be in Hickory Grove Cemetery in Bismarck, Arkansas. 

Arrangements by Smith Family Funeral Home-Ruggles Wilcox Chapel, 517 Clay Street, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923.  

Live stream:  Russellvilleward.link/peggyhardinmemorial