Dortha Faye Hardin

For Dortha Faye Hardin, age 87 of Knoxville, Tennessee, faith became sight on Mother’s Day, May 8, 2022. She was better known in her later years as Dodie , a name coined by her first grandchild, Alex. It was fitting that a woman who devoted her life with sacrificial love to her family decided to share Mother’s Day with her two sons in Heaven, and with her son and daughter she leaves behind. Her smile, sense of style and wonderful sense of humor will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her. We all are saddened on our earthly loss but full of joy knowing she is spending eternity her Lord and Savior. Dodie met the love of her life, Jack Hardin, in first grade in Sevierville, Tennessee. When she came home that day, she shared with her mom that she met her future husband that day at Sevier Elementary. After high school, she attended the University of Tennessee where she was a UT majorette – known in East Tennessee as the “Four from Sevierville”; as she and her fellow majorettes swept the fierce competition to make the University squad as freshmen. She proudly twirled at the Cotton Bowl and the Presidential inauguration. Dodie later married her first-grade love that she swore she would so many years ago. She will be remembered for her unwavering faith in the Lord by providing a Christian home, her devotion to raising her four children and creating traditions that will never be forgotten and always carried out. Dodie was active in her garden club for years and in her own gardens. Dodie loved a good party She welcomed guests in her home and her daughters home with grace and unparalleled attention to detail. She was a “Mom” to so many outside her family and prided herself in that role. Dodie was preceded in death by sons James “Jimmy” Hardin and Jeff Hardin, husband Jack Hardin, and parents Buford and Lucille Brown. She is survived by son Kevin Hardin, daughter Michelle Hardin (Larry Kleinman), granddaughter Alexandra Grimson (Kristjan), and grandsons Cooper and Loch Hardin. She also leaves behind her Aunt Evelyn Hendrix and cousin Yvonne Newcomb-Doty, both of whom she referred to as her sisters. A brief service will be held Monday, May 16, 5:30 p.m., in the sanctuary at Central Baptist Bearden, 6300 Deane Hill Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919, the family will remain for those who wish to visit. In lieu of flowers, her wishes were that memorials be made to St. Jude’s Hospital, Central Baptist Bearden, or a charity close to your heart.

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Dortha Faye Hardin

October 14, 1934 - May 8, 2022