Marilyn Joyce (Gee) Hardwick

Marilyn Joyce (Gee) Hardwick passed away on December 3, 2024 at Sequoyah East Nursing Center in Roland, Oklahoma. She was born in Marion County, Indiana on December 10, 1932 to Foster and Emma (Adams) Gee. 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 for work while her fiancé, Floyd went to the Navy and was deployed overseas. She and Floyd were married by the Navy Chaplain in San Diego, California on August 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 3 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 3-12 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, Floyd for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

In 1998, they moved to Shady Point, Oklahoma 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, or creating a quilt for a loved one, and 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

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

Connor Hardwick

12 great-grandchildren

Numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, other loved ones, and a host of 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.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 20, 2024 in the Dowden-Roberts Cremation Center Chapel in Poteau, Oklahoma with her grandsons, Jeremy and Joshua Hardwick officiating. Burial will follow at 1:00 p.m. in the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas under the direction of Dowden-Roberts Cremation Center in Poteau, Oklahoma.

Pallbearers will be: Her Family

Viewing will be Tuesday, December 10th from 12:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with family visiting with friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at 28918 205th. Ave., Poteau, Oklahoma 74953.

To view Marilyn’s online guestbook, www.dowdenrobertsfuneralhome.com.