Peggy Jean Hardin Jones, 87, of Pinehurst, North Carolina, passed away on December 6, 2019. Peggy was predeceased by Chester A. Hardin (father) and Maxine Hutchins Hardin (mother). She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Ben Simmons Jones; her sister, Margaret Hardin Ellis Ure; her brother, Chester L. Hardin; her daughter, Melanie Jones Toler; her son, Brian D. Jones; and grandchildren Courtney M. Toler and Mark D. Toler.
Peggy was born on August 30, 1932 to Maxine and Chester Hardin in Newport, Arkansas. As a high school student at Newport High School, Peggy excelled in all subjects. She was her class treasurer, and a member of Quill and Scroll (honor society), the newspaper staff, and the band. Additionally, her senior year, she was co-editor of the Lakeside, the school yearbook. After graduating from high school in 1950, Peggy went on to study music at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas.
In 1952, Peggy fell in love and married Ben Simmons Jones, her life-long partner and best friend of 67 years. Ben was an officer in the US Army stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas. So, Peggy became a military officer’s wife accompanying Ben to each of his duty stations the next 20+ years fulfilling the responsibilities of an Army wife and mother to her two children, Melanie and Brian. They lived in Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Germany. She made every place “Home!” no matter how temporary the work assignment. This meant that all the boxes were unpacked, contents were put away and pictures were hung at each and every location.
In 1972, Ben retired from the US Army in San Antonio, Texas. There, Peggy and Ben started a successful business in interior design for 12 years helping others create their dream interiors.
They decided to really retire and sold their business in 1984. Their subsequent retirement travels took them across the country visiting friends primarily through the southeast. This led to the decision to move to Charlotte, NC where they built a new home. It was there that their son, Brian, graduated from high school and went on to college at UNC-Chapel Hill. While they had plans to remain settled near the Carolina coast, that changed when their first grandchild was born in 1995. They sold their house and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio to be nearby. Peggy’s grand-daughter, Courtney, named her “Mimi” and they were two peas in a pod. Mimi imparted many of her granddaughter’s favorite lifetime passions. They read books on a sofa for endless hours, played on the piano together, and baked pies together including piecrust from scratch. Her second grandchild, Mark, followed and she imparted her love of music and instruments. Mark still plays the handmade acoustical guitar that Mimi bought.
As the grandchildren grew and headed to college, Peggy and Ben moved to Pinehurst, NC, which was close to where her son, Brian, was living and working as an NCAA official. From there, they traveled frequently. Travel was a passion for Peggy, as she saw a great benefit to not only traveling somewhere but in experiencing the culture and the history. She and Ben would frequently take classes on wine or art or history wherever they traveled. Some favorite destinations were several islands in the Caribbean and France. Always interested in the arts, Peggy took painting lessons in oil and watercolor.
The rest of Mimi’s passions and interests can be summed up in one word: family. She put her family first in all regards, setting an example that has endured time. Each family member’s favorite dessert was always made for birthdays and the cakes she decorated for her grandchildren always looked like they had been professionally done. She was never too busy for a phone call, and you could bet she wanted to know what the next move in your life was. She enjoyed surprise visits from family in Pinehurst too, and never failed to have all the fixings for a Pecan pie at the ready should someone show up at the doorstep. She kept every letter, graduation certificate, drawing, and photo that her family sent. No matter how much room they may have taken up, those mementoes’ from family always took priority. She was married to her best friend and life partner, Ben, for 67 years with whom she loved to do everything.
A private family memorial service was held in Pinehurst, NC. A graveside service will be held as soon as Peggy’s burial can be scheduled at Arlington National Cemetery.
The importance of family is what led Mimi to donate to St Jude, as she had been so blessed with healthy children and grandchildren, she wanted to give to an organization that would help families going through immensely difficult circumstances. We ask that you consider donating to http://giftfundsstjude.org/Peggy-Hardin-Jones in Peggy’s memory.
Online condolences may be made to www.bolesfuneralhome.com
Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.
