Marilyn Frye Hardin broke the chains of a long battle with Pancreatic Cancer and went into Eternal Rest with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Wednesday, January 13, 2016. She was 76 years old and died at her home in Mt. Juliet, Tenn.
Marilyn was born on February 23, 1939 in Kingsport, Tenn. She was the daughter of U.D. Frye and Hazel Counts Frye Schuettler. She was a 1956 Graduate of Elizabethton High School, attended her beloved Emory and Henry College and graduated from East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Education. She was employed as a Legal Secretary and Teachers Aide and her last employment was as Director of Development for the New Community School in Richmond, Va. It was in the last position that she earned a number of professional awards for her ability to raise funds for the building of campus classroom facilities.
She was quite active in the Cub Scouts Organization in the Richmond VA District, organizing new Scouting Units and training Cub Adult Leaders. She had lived in various cities in the Southeast while raising her family and providing loving support to her husband. She was an avid gardener and planting trees and shrubs wherever she lived was her passion.
She served her Lord through her work in the United Methodist Church. She was presently a member of the Hermitage United Methodist Church and was previously a member of the Elizabethton First United Methodist Church. She was an accomplished speaker and worked as a Lay Speaker in the Richmond VA and Holston Conferences. At her local churches, she taught Sunday school, was Chairperson of the Worship Committee, the Administrative Board, a member of the Board of Trustees and lead three advanced Disciple Bible Studies. She was known by her many friends as the “Church Lady.”
Marilyn was preceded in death by her mother, Hazel Counts Frye Schuettler, her father, U.D. Frye, and her stepfather, Henry Schuettler.
Marilyn is survived by her husband Jim of 56 years, and their sons, Greg Hardin and his wife Terry Hardin of Huntington, W.Va., and David Hardin and his wife Kristina and two granddaughters, Josie Lou and Bristol, all of Austin, Texas. Also surviving are a number of cousins and their extended families and a special friend, Jane Hoff.
A service to honor the life of Marilyn Hardin will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 17, at the Elizabethton First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Laurie Jo Cranford and the Rev. Ray Amos officiating. Music will be under the direction of Ambers Wilson, pianist, Catherine Edwards Bunton, soloist, David Arney, organist, and the Chancel Choir. Interment at Happy Valley Memorial Park will immediately follow the service. Active pallbearers will be Gene Sams, Tyler Tetrick, Carroll Billheimer, Richard Lovette, Walt Vandegrift, Sam Shipley and Steve Counts. Honorary pallbearers will be Richard Grindstaff, Tom Powers, Larry Woods, Dr. John Chapman, Earl Norris, Bobby Joe Sams, David Hale, Richard Tetrick, Joe Hall and Bill Armstrong. The family will receive friends at Tetrick Funeral Home, Riverside Chapel, on Saturday, January 16, from 4 until 6 p.m. Those who wish to omit flowers may make donations in memory of Marilyn to The New Community School, 4211 Hermitage Road, Richmond, VA 23227; Emory and Henry College, 30461 Garnand Road, Emory V, 24327; or the Elizabethton First United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund, 325 East E Street, Elizabethton TN 37643. The family wishes to thank the following for their many acts of kindness to Marilyn during her long journey: Alive Hospice, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Comfort Keepers, special thanks to Monda Kendricks of Comfort Keepers, Hermitage United Methodist Church, Elizabethton First United Methodist Church, the Del Webb Community that tirelessly supported the family, Joe and Shayla Hall and the Tetrick family. Online condolences may be shared with the family at our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the Hardin family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.