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John H. Hardin, 80, of Elizabethton, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 9, 2022, from Holston Valley Medical Center. John was born in Carter County to the late Cecil H. Hardin and Ruby A. Grindstaff Hardin. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Erma J. Myers and Lois Treadway.
John H. Hardin was a family man who always placed God and his family first. He was involved in many things, but he always found the time for God and family. He was a member of Watauga Valley Free Will Baptist Church where he taught Sunday school for close to 30 years and also served as a trustee.
John retired from Unaka High School following 33 years teaching agriculture and where he had the only butchering class in Tennessee. He also taught agriculture at Elizabethton High School for four years. His knowledge of agriculture led him to be President of the TN National Vocational Agricultural Association as well as Chairman of the Soil Conservation Service of Elizabethton for many years. John has always loved the land and had a genuine dedication to farming. He was raised in Carter County and farmed here his entire life. His father and grandfather were farmers before him. When he was six years old, his father gave him a calf and told him that he was responsible for it. All through high school, even though he played football, he still had to take care of the dairy cows. While he was in college, he got up each morning at 4:30 a.m. to milk 48 cows before going to school. John has shared his love of the land by teaching his children to love the land that God gave them.
John H. Hardin is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Nyoka Hardin; his sons, John Claude Hardin (Jennifer) of Elizabethton and Jeremy L. Hardin (Megan) of Elizabethton; his daughters, Vikki Thomas (Richard) of Elizabethton and Heather Leonard (Dennis) of Bristol, Va.; his grandchildren, Chandler Thomas, Kyndal Thomas, Mason Richardson, Ava Leonard, Hannah Taylor, John Hardin and Gracie Hardin; and his sister-in-law, Jonnie Wilson of Elizabethton. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
A service to honor and celebrate the life of John H. Hardin will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, in the Chapel of Peace of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Rev. Bill Greer officiating. Pallbearers are Richard Thomas, Dennis Leonard, Deon Sheffield, Doyce Sheffield, Mason Richardson, Richard Allen, Bryce Richardson and Mike Nidiffer. Honorary pallbearers are Sherrill Perry, Howard Campbell and Glen Arnold. The family will receive friends in the chapel from the hours of 5 through 7 p.m., prior to the service. The graveside service and interment for John H. Hardin will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 13, at Happy Valley Memorial Park with Rev. Rodney Deyton officiating. Those wishing to be a part of this service are asked to meet at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, no later than 10:15 a.m. to travel in procession to the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to St. Jude Children’s Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Words of comfort can be sent to the family through our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.
Tetrick Funeral Home-Riverside Chapel, 211 North Riverside, Elizabethton, TN 37643 (423) 542-2232 is honored to serve the family of John H. Hardin.