Obituary

Jewell Marie (Coker) Harden

July 22, 1940 ~ June 25, 2022

 

Jewell Marie Harden, 81, went to be with the Lord on June 25, 2022, in Abilene, Texas. She was born to James Tollie and Jewel Dean (Taylor) Coker on July 22, 1940, in Durant, Oklahoma.

 

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church, Abilene, directed by Fry~Smith Funeral Home, Tuscola. A visitation will be held before the service at 1:00 PM at First Baptist Church, Abilene. A private burial will precede the funeral service.

 

When Jewell was just four years old, her father, serving as a WWII Army Captain in New Guinea, was killed in action. Her mother was remarried to Maxwell Taylor, who raised Jewell as his very own.

 

She earned her bachelor's degree from Eastern New Mexico University where she met Ron Harden, Sr. They were married in Eunice, New Mexico, on June 13, 1959. Throughout her life, Jewell taught elementary school music across New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Texas. Wherever they went, Ron and Jewell sought out small churches who could not afford to pay a pianist. Jewell felt so blessed to be able to use her talents to serve the Lord in this way.

 

In 1971, the Hardens made their way to Abilene. Countless elementary students' lives were touched by having Mrs. Harden as their music teacher.

 

Jewell loved to sew and work puzzle books, but her favorite hobby was that of chasing after her grandchildren.

 

She is preceded in death by her mother and both of her fathers.

 

She is survived by Ron, her husband of 63-years; brother, Jimmy Taylor (Lissie) of Abilene; sister, Sharon Givans, of Kingman, Arizona; her children: Ron, Jr. (Tammy), Leland (Elise), and Teresa Spikes (Ricky); grandchildren: James (Tina), Suzanne (Rusty), Victoria, Verity, Nathaniel, Tanner, Tyler (Sylvia), and Derrick; and six great grandchildren.

 

In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to City Light, care of First Baptist Church, Abilene, 336 Hickory Street, Abilene, Texas, 79601.