Mary L. Hardison; Former Teacher

Mary Louise Hardison, a former teacher and longtime Ventura County resident, died at her home in Santa Paula on Monday. She was 91.

She was born Nov. 23, 1908, in Woodland, Calif. She enjoyed summers at the family farm near Redding, swimming in the Sacramento River and camping near Mt. Lassen with her maternal uncle and aunt.

While visiting her cousin Elizabeth Hardison in Santa Paula, she met Elizabeth’s cousin Robert Hardison and they began a relationship that lasted more than 70 years.

After graduating from Woodland High School, she received her teaching credential from San Jose State University while Robert Hardison attended Stanford University.

The couple married June 30, 1930, in Stanford’s Memorial Church. They moved near Robert’s family in Santa Paula, where she taught at Isbell Middle School until their first child was born.

Hardison was active in PTA, Assistance Assn., Santa Paula Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Ebell Club and Mary A. Livermore Society.

She enjoyed playing bridge, swimming, camping and traveling. She and her husband enjoyed trips to Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, the Middle East, Europe, China, the Panama Canal and Venezuela.

Hardison is survived by daughter Dorcas Hardison Kimball Thille of Santa Paula, son Logan Hardison, sisters Betty Scher and Helen Krug, brother James Nordyke, nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1996.

A memorial service is scheduled at 11 a.m. March 7 at the Universalist Unitarian Church of Santa Paula.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Blanchard Community Library Endowment Fund, the Women’s Legacy Fund at the Ventura Community Foundation, Santa Paula Memorial Hospital or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of Skillin-Carroll Mortuary in Santa Paula.