DANVILLE, Ill. - Esther W. Hardesty, 63, of Danville, Ill., passed away March 4, 2011, in Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.
She was born June 8, 1947, in Perrysville, to Charles and Thelma Arlington Kyger.
She graduated from North Vermillion High School and owned and operated Leon's Diner, Danville, for several years. She was a huge Cubs fan, #1 Colts fan, Danville Dans fan and loved anything Betty Boop. Above all she loved her family and was a dedicated homemaker and mom.
Surviving are two sons, William (and spouse Sherry) Hardesty, Warsaw, and Sean (and spouse Heather) Johnson, Arverne, N.Y.; four daughters: Teresa (and spouse Marty) Wells, Bismarck, Ill.; Mary Hardesty, Mentone; Angela (and spouse Jason) Oldham, Tippecanoe; and Nicole (and spouse Jason) Kann, Etna; two brothers, William (and spouse Mary) Kyger, Danville, and Charles Kyger, Arkansas; five sisters: Anna (and spouse Terry) Cummings, Veedersburg; Charlotte Hanson, Danville; Janet Fugate, Alvin, Ill.; Josephine Butts, Benton Harbor, Mich.; and Iris Snyder, Colorado; 18 grandchildren: Colt Anthony Johnson, Corey Calvert (and Kristen Stevens), Jessica Calvert, Jacob Oldham, Austin and Tiana Hardesty, Shasta Childs, Tom Hursey, Andrea and Jeremy Perkins, Ashley, Allie and Autumn Kann, Emma Johnson, Marisa Thomason (and A.J. Anderson), Jarod Thomason (Virginia Rodgers) and Sarah and Cheyenne Wells; and three great-grandchildren: Brooklyn Slone, Madison Childs and Natalie Fortes; her special friend, Dee London; and many regular customers. She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant son, George Johnson III; four sisters, Bernice Hart, Mildred Smith, Lucille Knee and Verda Elliot; and two brothers, Donald and Frederick Goben.
Services were Tuesday at Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center, a Life Celebration Home, 3940 N. Vermilion St., Danville, with Pastor Drew Mentzer officiating. Following the service, per her wishes, she will be cremated and burial will be in Atherton Cemetery, Danville.
*****
Condolences may be sent via www.sunsetfuneralhome.com
