Birth date: May 8, 1936 Death date: Jul 30, 2015
Funeral services for John L. Hardin, age 79, of Longview, will be 10 am Tuesday, August 4, 2015 At Greggton United Methodist Church in Longview, TX. Interment will follow services at Spring Hill Cemetery in Paris, TX later that da Read Obituary
Milbra, Jada and I did not know until this past month when we went to Chicota for a service, that John Lewis had passed away.
Our Mother, Patsy Smallwood thought he hung the moon. Of course through her illness Jada and I saw him , you and the girls more often.
I hope you are doing well,
Much love,
Patricia Summitt
6 - 14 - 2017
I have not seen John Lewis in 60 years or so and only talked with him once which was about a year ago. However, I often think about him and the motorcycle rides he gave me as a child. I also remember how he taught me to rig up a model T coil and a spark plug so flames would blow out of the exhaust pipe. In my mind, I can still see flames blowing out of the dual vertical exhaust pipes that he had on his truck. What a sight!
One of the reasons I am reminded of him is the fact that I became owner of an old bent up 500 gallon water tank that used to belong to my father. It got bent up when it was full of water and chained to the truck that John Lewis turned over so many, many years ago.
He was my hero and the image of him flying past our old store in Faught, Texas on his motorcycle is etched in my brain. He could have taught movie stars a thing or two about riding motorcycles.
Now, these stories may seem like an odd tribute to a man, but he and his father, inspired me, a shoeless poor country bumpkin, to be creative, to explore and think for myself. I do have to admit that the "thinking for myself" part often landed me in trouble with my mother.
I have so many happy memories of the Hardin and Boswell families together at the beach and the lake; skiing, camping and "philosophizing" until the wee hours of the night. All who met John were better for having known him. May the Lord comfort you in this difficult time. Much love to you all, Angie Boswell Browning
There is power and grace in a man who fought a fierce battle; who succeeded so well in spirit that his body couldn't keep up. Heaven has a special place for this special man. Larry and Glenda Burt.
The chair next to me in Welmaker Joy Sunday School class will be empty, as is my heart. John has returned home. He will be missed by so many of us here on earth, but most certainly, he was greeted with open arms by those above. My love and prayers to the family---Susie Daniel
