Harry Hargett

Harry Lee Hargett, born on May 2, 1925, was welcomed into the presence of his Lord on Monday, February 27, 2012; thereby ending his 10 year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Mr. Hargett was the son of the late Fannie Elizabeth (Griffin) Hargett and Noah Lee Hargett. He was born in Monroe, NC where he grew up and was valedictorian of his graduating class at Benton Heights High School. As a young man, he attended Wingate College and then entered the military, serving in the Navy during World War II, stationed in New Orleans, LA. After the Navy, he returned to North Carolina and pursued a career in radio with WEGO where he had his own radio show, “The Happy Harry Hour”. Harry held several positions after his radio days finally retiring from the Security Force at Phillip Morris in 1993. Throughout his life he loved to draw and perfected those skills during his retirement years. Drawing pictures of pastors, doctors, friends and family, his art studio walls are lined with memories. Before Alzheimer’s disease stripped him of this talent he finished one last project: Portraits of the fifty members of his wife’s graduating class (1950) at Winecoff High School. An article in the January 12, 2011 issue of the Independent Tribune focused on this last artistic endeavor and Harry’s Alzheimer’s battle. Mr. Hargett was a member of Wil-Mar Park Baptist Church from 1960 to 2000 when he joined Kerr Memorial Baptist Church where he was a member until his passing. He was also a member of the “Boiler Room” Sunday School class. Harry loved golf and before Alzheimer’s took its toll, you could find him most Saturdays on the course with “golfing buddies”. He wasn’t as much concerned about the score as he was enjoying the time with his friends; although, he can claim a hole-in-one. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 54 years, Doris Jane (Newell) Hargett and their son Jeff; sister-in-law, Jean Cox; niece, Rae Ann Stirewalt and her husband, Mike; nephews, Clint Cox and his wife, Kim and David Cox; great-nieces and nephews, Amber Burris, Laura Stirewalt, Andrew Cox, Garrett Cox, Jon Stirewalt and Brandon Hamilton. The family would like to offer a special thanks to the caregivers at Home Instead Senior Care especially Jan Haynes, Shelia Foster, Dorothy Archie and Sarah Namutebi; Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County especially Donna Clark, RN; Ronetta Testamark, CAN, Kathleen Blackwell-Plank and Elfra Bologna; also, the staff at Tucker Hospice House. And to the numerous friends who have offered their love and support during this difficult time. Visitation will be at Hartsell Funeral Home in Concord on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Funeral Services will be officiated over by Rev. J. Bradford Jones at Kerr Memorial Baptist Church on Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 2:00pm with a 30 minute state. Interment will follow at Carolina Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Alzheimer’s Association, Western Carolina Chapter, Harry Hargett Tribute Gift, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215 or Kerr Memorial Baptist Church Building Fund, 25 NC 49, S, Concord, NC 28025. Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord is serving the Hargett family.