Ira Dean Hardin Jr

Ira Dean Hardin Jr., age 51, of Elizabethton, TN passed away on Saturday, April 17, 2021 at Johnson City Medical Center. He was the son of Ira Dean Hardin Sr. and the late Shirley Jean Johnson Hardin. Ira was fun, loving, caring and an awesome brother and son. He was of the Baptist faith and enjoyed camping, fishing, running equipment and spending time with his family and friends.In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by his grandparents on his father’s side, Bertie Lola Scalf Hardin and Robert Lee Hardin and grandparents on his mother’s side, Minnie Katie Browder Johnson and Rev. Carl Herman Johnson Sr. Those left to cherish his memory are his father, Ira Dean Hardin Sr., of the home; two sisters, Kim Waycaster (Travis Carnes) and Deanna (Arthur) Nichols, of Elizabethton; son, Richard (Alisha ) Perkey, of Kingsport; close friends, Jean Morgan and Peggy Jordan, of Elizabethton; three grandchildren, Emma Perkey, Paisley Perkey and Oakley Perkey; three nephews, Johnathan ( Michelle ) Nichols, of Limestone, Noah Nichols, Trevor (Macy) Waycaster, of Elizabethton; a niece, Shirley Waycaster and two great-nephews, Sage Nichols and James Nichols.A service to celebrate the life of Ira Dean Hardin Jr. will be conducted at 5:00 P.M. on Sunday, April 25, 2021 at Harmony Freewill Baptist Church with Pastor Brandon Young officiating. The family will receive friends from 3:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M. prior to the service. Friends may also call at Ira Dean Hardin Sr.’s residence at 423-957-5755, or to Kim Waycaster’s home at 423-213-7797 and Deanna Nichols home at 423-483-2848.The graveside service and committal will be held following the service on Sunday at Hardin Family Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Tony Buchanan, Jeff Gilliam, Mike Ruppard, Trevor Waycaster, Steve Gilliam, Jessie Gilliam and Josh Hayward. Honorary pallbearers are Dale Freeman, Travis Carnes, Arthur Nichols, Ray Fagan, Kenny Hardin, Johnathan Nichols, Noah Nichols and cousins and uncles. Those who will be attending the graveside are asked to meet at the church after the service on Sunday to go in procession to the cemetery.The family would like to give a special thanks to Johnson City Medical Center’s nurses and staff for all their loving care and support, Brandon Young and Harmony FWB Church and to all who donated.Read Obituary