Everitt F. Hardin

Everitt Fee Hardin, 93, of Monmouth, IL, passed away at 12:23 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at Roseville Rehabilitation & Health Care in Roseville, IL. Born on May 11, 1925, in Monmouth, IL, he was the son of Delevan B. and Bess (Fee) Hardin. He was the 5th generation of the Hardin family in Monmouth. He attended Monmouth Public Schools after which he entered the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Cavalry, United States Army in 1946. Following the Basic Armor Officer course at Fort Knox, KY, he was assigned to the 2nd Constabulary Regiment in Augsburg, Germany, in 1947. He served as a company officer in 3 different companies of the 2nd Armored Cavalry, 2nd Squadron, during the 3 years he was stationed in Germany.

While stationed in Germany, he married Jane Bruington Walker of Monmouth, in Augsburg on July 31, 1949. She preceded him in death on March 28, 2018. Following his return to the United States in 1950, he joined the 2nd Armored Division at Fort Hood, TX, as a tank company commander. He also served as an Advanced Armor Officer at Fort Knox, KY; a Company Tactical Officer for the USMA Department of Tactics; an exchange officer at the US Naval Academy; and served in the 83rd Reconnaissance of the 3rd Armored Division at Fort Knox.

In 1955 he returned to Monmouth where his family had conducted a commercial banking business since 1870. He began his banking career at the Second National Bank of Monmouth in 1956, completed the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin in 1959, and was elected as the 7th President of Second National Bank in 1963. Following the dissolution of that bank in 1964, he was an organizer of Community National Bank in Monmouth where he served as President from 1964-1994.

Mr. Hardin was active in his community over those years and served on the Monmouth City Planning Commission and the Warren County Public Library for 40 years each. He also served on the boards of the Warren County YMCA, Citizens Lake, Monmouth Rotary Club, City of Monmouth Zoning Board of Appeals, Buchanan Center for the Arts, and the Monmouth Firefighters Pension Fund. Mr. Hardin was a longtime member of Faith United Presbyterian Church where he was an Ordained Elder and Trustee. He enjoyed tutoring elementary students in the Monmouth Public Schools.

At the age of 50, Mr. Hardin discovered backpacking. For the next 25 years he hiked parts of 3 National Scenic trails in the US, the Bruce Trail in Canada, and then visited northern Alaska many times, mostly in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. One of his most memorable trips was a 100-mile hike north across the Brooks Range to the Arctic Ocean.

He is survived by one son, Douglas D. Hardin of Monmouth, IL; four daughters: Susan E. (Abiel) Garza of Dallas, TX; Caroline "Lin" H. Inoue of Santa Fe, NM; Margaret "Meg" H. (Rob) Lindsay of Spokane, WA; Sarah J. Willett of Cameron, IL; sister-in-law Jane W. Walker of Monmouth, IL; 9 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; 2 nieces; and 3 nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Jane, sister Mary Ann Miller, brother-in-law F. Stuart Walker, and daughter-in-law Constance H. Hardin.

A memorial service for Everitt F. Hardin is planned for 3:00 pm on Thursday, March 14, 2019, at Faith United Presbyterian Church in Monmouth. His family will be present from 1:00-3:00 pm prior to the service for visitation at the church. Memorials are being established for the Buchanan Center for the Arts, Western Illinois Animal Rescue, Warren County Library, and Warren County YMCA. Mr. Hardin was a supporter of the University of Iowa Deeded Body Program and graciously donated his body for the advancement of medicine and science. Interment of his remains will be held at a later date. For more information, or to leave a remembrance, please visit www.turnbullfuneralhomes.com.

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