Theola Ann “Sally” Myers Harding left this world on September 15, 2024, to join her beloved Robert in heaven. She was surrounded by her children and grandchildren as she began her journey to join her husband.
Theola was born to Elmo and Lillie Myers on April 24, 1928, in Gouldbusk. She was 96 years old. When Theola was four years old, her mother Lillie passed away after a long battle with cancer. After her mother’s passing, she and her siblings went to live with their grandparents where they were lovingly cared for. She was raised on a farm where she learned to take care of livestock and to care for horses. She loved riding her horse more than anything else. She met the love of her life, Robert J. Harding, at church when she was a teenager. They grew up together, their love grew, and they married on May 10, 1945, at the Coleman Courthouse. They were married for 76 wonderful years. On May 8, 2021, she lost her beloved Robert.
Many people will remember Theola as a remarkable seamstress. She made wedding dresses, prom dresses and all manner of clothes for her family and friends. She sewed for the public for many years. One of her favorite things to make were the wild colored western shirts her son loved to wear. Her other favorite thing to make were doll clothes. Her passion was dolls. She never came across a doll she didn’t love. She didn’t care how ragged or disheveled they were, she would clean them up and make a beautiful dress for them, transforming them into the prettiest dolls she had. In later years, she began to make porcelain dolls. She loved taking all the parts and building the dolls. After they were made, she would make them special clothes and of course, extra sets to change them into. Some she sold, some she kept and some she gave to family and friends. Theola and her friend entered their creations in a contest and won first place with one of the dolls she had made and dressed.
Her other passion was gardening. She always had flowers of every kind growing in her yard. Her vegetable garden would yield enough to feed her family plus some. She had the green thumb touch. She could put a stick in the ground and grow the most beautiful flowers imaginable. There were always fresh flowers in vases in the house and blooms all around outside.
Theola was a homemaker for much of her married life, choosing to take care of her family and raise the children. She taught her children how to be good people and how to be strong. There were always cookies or cake made and anyone that came to visit never left hungry. She insisted they have a bite and a cup of coffee before they left. After her children were raised and out on their own, she went to work in the Early School cafeteria. She started working there in 1970, retiring after 10 years in 1980. She made lifelong friends among her co-workers and school staff. The children loved her and especially loved the sweets she made for them.
She will be greatly missed by her family and everyone that knows her.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 76 years Robert, her mother Lillie Ann, father Elmo Albert, sister Nelda Avants, four brothers Owen Myers, Elmo E. “Buster” Myers, William Lee “Bill” Myers, and Wilford “Sonny” Myers, a daughter-in-law, Claudia Harding, and her grandparents Steven and Lurana Fryar.
Theola is survived by her four children: Robert Odell of Blanket, Patricia Jackson and husband Harvey of Blanket, Harry and wife Ruth Ann of Zephyr and Bonnie of Blanket, seven grandsons, four granddaughters, 22 great-grandchildren, twelve great-great grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law, Nell Myers of Odessa and Brenda Myers of San Angelo.
The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude and appreciation to the staff at Legacy Estate Long Term Care in Comanche for their care and kindness to both us and our mom and to her Alpha Omega hospice team. Brea, Miranda and Maria-thank you for all you did to make her feel special and for taking such good care of her. Thank you for all you did for us. A very special thank you to Kayvon, moms at home attendant before she went to Legacy Estates. Kayvon, she loved you and thank you for taking such good care of our mom for the last 4 years. You are an angel.
Services for Theola will be at 2:00 PM Thursday September 19 at Heartland Funeral Home Chapel in Early. Visitation will be at 1:00 PM Thursday before the services. Burial will follow in Blanket Cemetery.
Condolences, memories, and tributes can be offered to the Harding family online at heartlandfuneralhome.com