JOSEPH REYNOLDS HARDY

(Born: December 27, 1912; Died: March 31, 1996)

Joseph and Viola Hardy

Joseph Reynolds Hardy was born December 27, 1912 in Vernal, Utah. He had two brothers and five sister, but one sister died in childhood. His father was Joseph Hyrum Hardy and his mother was Roseltha Melissa Reynolds. Joseph Hyrum Hardy was known for his great physical strength and his devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Joseph Reynolds Hardy's family moved around a bit while he was growing up and he lived in Salt Lake City, Detroit and Long Beach. When he was 17 and living in Long Beach he had his first nervous breakdown and was unable to finish school. He recovered and graduated from high school at the age of 20, but never went to college.

As a young man Joseph worked in various occupations. One of them was as a truck driver. A friend of his and he hauled a load to a distant city on one occasion and the truck broke down. So they sold their load and the truck, then rode the rails back home. It was during the depression and lots of men rode the rails in their search for work. He and his friend made it home safely and eventually parted. Dad and his family moved to Susanville, California where he went to work driving a delivery truck for a grocer. When he was 25 he was called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Texas. That experience set the foundation for the rest of his life. During his mission he became an excellent sciptorian, which served him throughout his life.

Immediately after his mission he married Viola Litster of Cleveland, Utah, who he had met while serving in San Antonio. She to was a missionary. The courtship was mainly through the mail and they were married January 18, 1940.

When he became ill with his nerves, which happened with increasing frequency as be became older, the scriptures would often bring him out of it. Perhaps the most traumatic experience of his life, and one that set him back over and over, was an incident that cost his son, Rodger, most of his right hand.

Joseph owned a small country store in Jamesville, about 12 miles east of Susanville. One day he was grinding meat for hamburgers when he was called out of the back room where the meat grinder was. As he walked out of the room, Rodger, then age 4, walked in from outside. Rodger's sister Geraldine was standing on a stool, shoving meat into the electric machine. Rodger wanted to do it, too. So Geraldine let him up on the stool and he began shoving the meat into the machine. Suddenly, the round blade caught his fingers and started pulling him in. Geraldine wrapped her arms around his waist and gave a terrific tug. He came out, but his fingers were gone and his hand was bleeding profusely. Rodger learned to adapt from the loss, but Joseph was emotionally scarred. The year was 1948.

Other children born to the family were Joseph Michael and Leland Ray. Joseph Michael, called Mike, carried on a long-standing family tradition by being named after his father. In fact, he carried that tradition on himself, by naming his own son Joseph. The tradition dates back to at least 1742.

Joe and Viola sold the store and in the early 1970's a friend introduced them to an exciting new concept. Shaklee Corporation was marketing vitamins and household cleansers through a unique concept called multi-level. Although skeptical at first, Joe and Viola started a Shaklee marketing business and within six months were making enough money for Joe to quit his job. Their business continued to grow and over the years they earned bonus cars and trips to far off places as the result of their efforts.

Joseph's problems with nerves continued, and as he grew older, worsened. In the early 1980's Joe and Viola moved to Elk Grove. Joe would become ill, then bounce back, but eventually the regimen of medicines and stress took there toll. He developed a blood disorder, which required transfusions. At first the transfusions helped restore his strength, but eventually, even that was of little help. he passed quietly away early in the morning on March 31, 1996.

He left behind his wife, Viola and a devoted family of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

This history was written by his son, Rodger L. Hardy (June 5, 1997).