Willa Marie Hardy, 96, Fredonia, died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010 at the Golden Living Center in Fredonia. She was born Oct. 16, 1913 in rural Braymer, Mo., to Claude and Ollie Myrtle Cox Wightman.

Willa was a caretaker, helping people in their homes and caring for their children. She later took nurses training and became a teletype operator for TWA for 18 years.

On May 3, 1959 in Kansas City, Mo., she married Howard Lanning Hardy. The Hardy’s made their home on Cardinal Valley Farm in rural Wilson County. She was a member of the New Albany United Methodist Church. Her husband preceded her in death April 19, 2004.

Survivors include three brothers, Winifred Wightman, Kansas City, Mo., Buford Wightman, Norborne, Mo., Robert Wightman, Olympia, Wash.

Funeral will be 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5 at the Timmons Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in the Fredonia City Cemetery. Memorials have been established with the First United Methodist Church in Fredonia and with the New Albany United Methodist Church. Words of condolence may be left at www.timmonsfuneralhome.com.