Darlene Harding
Jerseyville |
Darlene (King) Harding, 78, of Jerseyville, went home to the welcoming arms of our Lord and Savior on Thursday, October 13, 2016. She was born April 27, 1938 in Eldred, Illinois to the late Ebert G. and Gladys Lucille (Bushnell) King where she was raised. At a tender age of 12 years old she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.
She married the love of her life, George Harding, on June 30, 1956 and they celebrated over 60 years of marriage. During this union they were blessed with three children; Vickie (Bill) Morris of Edwardsville, Gregory (Sarah) Harding of Jerseyville, and Shelly (Dennis) Bierman of Jerseyville. She is lovingly known as “Gram” to her grandchildren: Travis Kahl, Gregory (Stephanie) Harding Jr, Aaron Harding, Darren (Chelsea) Bierman, Derek (Lesley) Bierman, Kayla Bierman, Rosemary Daube, Billy (Richelle) Morris and also to her great-grandchildren Rebecca, Dalton, Lleyton, Clayton, Reese, Boyd, Jada, Tanner, Allyssa, Jacob, Emy, and Ty. Her family always knew of her unwavering love, support, and prayers for them.
Darlene lived her life to the fullest. She gathered her strength from the authority of God’s Word. She loved sending greeting cards as well as receiving them, especially when she was unable to attend church due to declining health. Her presence, her morals, her love for others, made this world a kinder, happier place with her heart of gold. She was a giver. She was also an excellent seamstress and cook.
She worked at the Kroger Store in Jerseyville for 13 years until the store closed. She then worked for Dr. Groves B. Smith Guardianship in Godfrey for another 13 years until her retirement. After her retirement, she took several vacations with family, with her favorite vacation spots always being somewhere in the mountains. She also enjoyed spending time outdoors landscaping and interior decorating.
Surviving in addition to her husband, children and grandchildren are two brothers; Glen King of Eldred and Jerry (Alice) King of Jerseyville; two sisters, Donna (Bennie) Morris of Jerseyville and Doris (Don) Muntz of Berdan; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and her church family. She is also survived by a very special aunt, Ruth Adcock of Carrollton, IL and a very dear friend, Joann Cunningham of Jerseyville.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Charles King; a sister-in-law, Karen King, and a nephew, Eric King.
A visitation honoring her life will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, October 21, 2016, at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville. Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m., Saturday, October 22, 2016 at the Dow Southern Baptist Church, with Pastor David Brown officiating. The burial will immediately follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Eldred. At Darlene’s request, all memorials may be directed to Dow Southern Baptist Church, where she was a faithful member, in her honor.
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” – 2 Peter 3:8 NIV
Today we rejoice in the knowledge that she passed the barriers of time as we know it and is forever at home with her Savior.
This is not the end. It is the beginning.
Until we see you again …. Know that you are, and will always be, loved.
Crawford Funeral Home
