Dorothy Louise Hargis

Dorothy Louise Hargis, 80, passed away quietly at her home in Elkins Lake on Sunday December 18, 2006. Family and friends were everything to her and they were with her at the end. She had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer less than a year earlier. She was born on February 6, 1926, to Annie and George Wells at Madisonville. Here parents were farmers and sharecroppers and she herself worked in the cotton fields as a child. With great effort by her and her family, she graduated from high school in Madisonville, living in town with a local family. She immediately went to work in Houston. There, in 1944, she met Raymond Earl Gardner, who was in the Coast Guard. Raymond was from Weldon, a tiny Trinity River town only a short distance from Madisonville. Louise and Raymond settled in Huntsville at the end of World War II, where they raised four children. She worked as a housewife, devoted mother, bookkeeper, doctor’s assistant, and at Sam Houston State University Alumni Association. Although Louise loved traveling, she never wanted to live anywhere other than East Texas, and she did not. Raymond Earl died in 1977. Louise married Bill Dillard in 1980. They spent seven years together before Bill died of cancer. Louise married widower Gerald Hargis in 1991. Thery were married for ten years when Gerald died in 2001 of cancer. Louise is preceded in death by her mother and father, her sister Billie Jean Wells and her three husbands. She is survived by her brother George Wells and his wife Gay Wells of Anderson, and their son Mike Harrington; her four children, sons Donald Ray Gardner and his wife Patricia Ann Muffin of Travis County, their daughters Dawn Rivamist Gardner-Murfin and Aurora Leah Gardner-Murfin, and great granddaughter Yemanja Leona de Luz Free; Ronald Dale Gardner of Huntsville; Randy Lee Gardner and Beth Nesmith of Huntsville, grandchildren Jeff Gardner and John Gardner Edwards; and daughter Margaret Ann McAdams and her husband Byron McAdams of Comfort, their children Greg McAdams and Shannon Bethea, and great grandchildren Ashlee Bethea and Colby Smith. Louise remained close to Gerald’s daughters, Diane Louther and Kathy Moss. Funeral arrangements are through Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home. The family will be receiving from 6-8 pm on the evening of Tuesday, December 19, 2006. Services will be held at First United Methodist Church of Huntsville, 10:00 AM December 20, 2006. Burial will follow the services in the Addickes Addition of Oakwood Cemetery, Huntsville, Texas. Louise will be missed by many. The family expresses heartfelt thanks to all of her friends and caregivers who provided prayers, food, and comfort throughout her illness. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Huntsville, Walker County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, or the charity of your choice. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at www.shmfh.com.

Dorothy Louise Hargis

February 6, 1926 - December 20, 2006