Gertrude Elizabeth "Betsy" Butchee Hardy

Betsy Butchee Hardy

Gertrude Elizabeth (Betsy) Butchee Hardy, age 85, passed away on November 7, 2019, at her home on Breezy Valley Plantation in Columbus, Mississippi.   No visitation prior to the service will be held.  The funeral service will be held at Columbus First United Methodist Church, 602 Main Street on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 11:00 a.m., officiated by Reverend Anne Russell Bradley and Reverend Jimmy Criddle.  A graveside service will be held at the Hardy family cemetery. Memorial Gunter Peel Funeral Home & Crematory, 2nd Ave. North has been entrusted with arrangements.  A celebration of life gathering will be held at Magowah Gun & Country Club following the funeral service.  Family and friends are welcome to attend the celebration of life gathering.

Betsy was born in Columbus, MS on June 20, 1934.  She was the only child of Herman Marcus (Butch) Butchee and Gertrude Elizabeth (Blalock) Butchee.  She grew up in Columbus and attended S.D. Lee High School.  After graduation from high school, she attended MSCW and was graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, with emphasis on Piano.  During college, while dating Houston who was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity,  she was chosen as the Kappa Alpha Rose, claiming her as the sweetheart of the fraternity.  October 6, 1956, she married Jennings (Houston) Hardy and together they left Columbus as Houston began his service in the US Air Force.  Over the next several years, they travelled and lived across the US, enjoying life and making long lasting friendships wherever they went.

In June of 1959, they returned to Columbus where Houston began his employment with Lamar Life and later, Swoope Insurance Agency.  They made their home on the family farm and never moved again.  Over the 63 years of their marriage, Betsy enjoyed cooking – especially wild game, reading, growing beautiful flowers, sewing, teaching piano lessons privately to students and entertaining.  She was a life member of the Columbus Junior Auxiliary and a past member of Milady Garden Club.   Every year, in the fall, Betsy loved attending MSU football games and cheering on her bulldogs with Houston and their friends.  Together they enjoyed years of entertaining guests and travelling worldwide.

Betsy was a member of Columbus First United Methodist Church and a member of the Fran Ivy Sunday School class which was comprised of so many dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman (Butch) and Gertrude Butchee.   She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Houston, along with their children, Beth Hardy Duff (Paul) of Madison, MS and Mark Hardy (Charlotte) of Columbus, MS.  She is also survived by three grandchildren, Jason Duff (Christina) of Madison, MS and Collier Hardy and Carlton Hardy of Columbus, MS.

The family wishes to thank everyone who had a hand in caring for Betsy over the past several years, for their loving support, dedication and devotion.

Pallbearers will be Mack Howard, Billy Phillips, Will Hardy, Harold Clark, Howard Fisackerly and Dr Mike Batson.  Honorary Pallbearers will be Bud Phillips, Gene Smith, B.A. Atkins, Howard Sharp, Tom Wolford, Bobby Caldwell, Lee Sanders, Carter Hutchins, Aubrey Nichols, Tyler McShan and Si Thomas.  Many of these aforementioned being members of the highly distinguished Peckerwoods Mens’ Group.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Columbus Lowndes Humane Society, PO Box 85, Columbus, MS 39703 or online at www.clhumanesociety.org or to the charity of your choice.