Johnny Hardin Obituary

Johnny W. Hardin December 23, 1945- May 16, 2024

ELIZABETHTON - Johnny W. Hardin, 78, of Elizabethton peacefully passed away, Thursday, May 16, 2024 at Johnson City Medical Center, with family and friends by his side, due to a stroke. Born Dec. 23, 1945, to the late Walter and Daisy Chloe Hardin of the Siam Community. Mr. Hardin was raised in the Siam Community. He graduated High School at Elizabethton High School in 1963. Mr. Hardin Married Janice K. Blackburn on December 18, 1964 at Hunter Memorial Baptist Church by Rev. G. R. Blackburn, Father of the Bride.

Big John, as people referred to him, by his peers spent 43 years as supervisor at Kennametal, Inc. In Johnson City he was a very good people person and many a person will tell you that he was very dedicated to his job and his family; raising three kids and he always provided for his family.

Mr. Hardin, in early years, coached baseball and umpired little league. He always backed and encouraged his boys to play. He was very much into sports, and even watching and coaching form the stands. He encouraged all players. He was a die-hard Braves Fan and a Dallas Cowboy Fan. All kids would call him papaw or Mr. John. He was liked by all kids, he loved children as they did him. Along the way, after retirement, he was a cancer survivor and even got through open-heart surgery. He was a die-hard republican and always voted and loved to argue politics. He always had a dog, and spoiled each one of them and they love him for that: J.J., Lilly, Bubba, and Rocky. He was of the Baptist faith and attended Lynn Valley Baptist Church. In earlier years, he loved to play golf with his friends. He was a member of Masonic Lodge 566, Roan Mountain, Loyal Order of the Moose, and Elizabethton Elks Lodge.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Janice and her parents, Gwyn and Alma Blackburn. His parents Walter and Daisy Chloe Hardin, his son Tracy Dale, a sister, Phyllis of CA and 3 nephews.

Survivors include his 2 sons Tony and Travis of the home, grandsons: Jonathon, Andrew and Thomas. Also, great-granddaughters: Elizabeth of North Carolina, Skilar and Kallie of Elizabethton. Also, his sister Brenda, and brother, Joe, all of Elizabethton. He had several nieces and nephews.

In light of it all, we wanted to include his daughter he never had and special friend to him Anne Provenzale and her kids and all her grandkids, Lil Malina aka little witch, as he called her.

His wish was to be cremated and buried beside his wife. He will have a viewing.

Funeral Services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Monday, May 20, 2024 in Memorial Funeral Chapel with Pastor Darrell Holly and Pastor Tim Tapp officiating. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 950 W. Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605-4255 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl, Memphis, Tn. 38105-9959. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday prior to the service. Interment will be in Happy Valley Memorial Park at a later date.

Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Hardin family.