Jean Harding

1934 - 2014

COLDWATER, Mich. — Jean Louise Harding, 79 of Coldwater passed away on June 8, 2014 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo while surrounded by family.
A funeral service will take place on Friday, June 13, 2014, at 11 a.m. at Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater with Pastor Dallas McFarland of the Church of the Nazarene in Eaton Rapids officiating. Interment will follow at West Jamestown Cemetery in Fremont, Ind.
Visitation will be Thursday, June 12, 2014 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at Dutcher Funeral Home.
Jean was born June 25, 1934, in Huntingdon, Pa., to Richard and Lillian (Fagan) Geissinger. She was a true sportswoman. Jean played baseball in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League where she was known as "Dutch." While playing baseball, she met her future husband Russell "Blaine" Harding. They were married on April 25, 1959, at the United Methodist Church in Fremont, Ind. Jean worked at the Branch Intermediate School District as a para professional, where she proudly worked with special needs children for many years.
Jean was a loving, family-first wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She lived a very active life, playing sports into her 50s with her children. After baseball ended, she took up fast-pitch softball and was known as "Dudley." Eventually she conceded, and played slow-pitch. When not playing, Jean stayed involved by coaching or umpiring games. Jean has been inducted into the Michigan, Indiana, and Pennsylvania Halls of Fame and is an honored member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Mrs. Harding had many interests outside of sports. She enjoyed walking, playing golf, and reading. Jean also enjoyed the outdoors, spending time watching wildlife in her backyard and bird-watching. She was known as a loyal, proud, and generous person who could be feisty at times.
Jean is survived by her daughters, Ann "Bugs" (Bob) Weeks of Homer, Karla "Pooh" Harding of Angola, and Jana"Toad" (Mark) Harding-Bishop of Hastings; her sister, Contance Schofield of Maine; her brother, Richard (Carol) Geissenger of Virginia; grandchildren, Brandon (Khanthaly) Gibson, Kole Gibson, Lyle Griffiths, Hunter "Superman" Weeks, and Amanda Jean Cope; great-grandchildren, Jordan Gibson and Jeremiah "the Bullfrog" Gibson; 7 nieces and nephews; and her loyal black lab Lucas.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years Russell "Blaine" Harding; her parents; and her sister, Virginia Mae Allison.
Memorials may be directed to the Special Olympics.
Send online condolences to www.dutcherfh.com.