Shirley Ann Hardy

Passed away on November 25th, 2024 of respiratory failure at Parkway Health and Rehabilitation in Payson, Utah. She was born on February 26th,1942 in Escondido, California to Hollis E. Watrous and Evelyn G. Watrous (Nee Hoxsie)

Shirley had her first two children from a failed marriage to Charles D. Boughner of Escondido: Cary Sean and Bary Rene (Boughner); were adopted, sealed for eternity but sadly, both are deceased. She is survived by her husband, Richard M. Hardy; the couple have lived in Meadow Utah since 2004: By daughter Holly Joy (Cochrum, 1969, of Frisco, Texas) and another son Jonathan Andrew Hardy (1970, of Yakima, Washington.) She is also survived by her only sibling Robert H. Watrous of San Diego, CA.

An Escondido, CA girl, Shirley, lived in what was the idyllic village of Escondido until her husband-to-be came along (1963) Richard was a dedicated bachelor until then, totally smitten and in spite of the prospect of a ready-made family, married in 1967; a 57-year honeymoon. Enchantingly shy, Shirley loved the girly things; e.g., of dance, took lessons and danced recitals and fairs until well after her first two babies. Another passion was cosmetology, which she mastered, paid her way while a single mom to those first two rowdy boys. Once her daughter and another son came along, she closed her (profitable) salon, becoming a full-time mom and wife to her second husband, Richard.

Until illness overtook her, she was active in church callings, especially relief society. Prodigious strength and resolve can only partly explain her overcoming end-stage kidney failure in 6 months of dialysis at age 81, unheard of, or so many years of being bedridden; cheerfully, patiently, of making up love songs to her honey, to Jesus and Heavenly Father, sung, usually too loudly to hospital staff and her hubby. She fought for life on shear will and faith until literally her last breath.

What Joy awaits: All Is Well.

Funeral services will be held Monday, December 9, 2024 at 11:00 AM in the Meadow Ward Chapel. A viewing will be held prior to the funeral from 10:00 to 10:45 AM. Interment will be in the Meadow Cemetery under the care of Olpin Stevens Funeral Home.  The funeral stream will be available at this link: https://youtu.be/KVRWZ6jm0BY