Bettie Hardin

Obituary of Bettie Hardin

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Services for Bettie (Shipman) Hardin, 94, of Abernathy, TX, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, August 25, 2025, at Abernathy First Baptist Church with Rev. Brian Brownlow and Rev. Janet Edwards officiating. Burial will follow in the Abernathy Cemetery. The register book for Mrs. Hardin will be available for signing Monday, August 25, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at Abell Funeral Home. Services are under the direction of Abell Funeral Home and Flower Shop of Abernathy.

Mrs. Hardin died Friday, August 22, 2025, in Lubbock, TX.

She was born May 8, 1931, in Stamford, TX, to Cleo and Clara (Zinn) Shipman. Mrs. Hardin graduated from Lubbock High School before continuing her education at Texas Tech University, where she earned her master's degree in mathematics. In 1953, she began what would become a remarkable 50-year teaching career in Abernathy ISD. Even after her official retirement in 2003, she continued teaching part-time until 2005. In honor of her decades of dedication, the district named the Bettie Hardin Auditorium, serving both the Middle School and High School campuses, in her honor.

Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Hardin gave generously of her time and talents to her community and church. A longtime member of Abernathy First United Methodist Church, she faithfully played piano for services. She was active in many professional and civic organizations, including the Texas Classroom Teachers Association, Texas State Teachers Association, National Educators Association, Texas South Plains Council of Mathematics Teachers, and the National and Texas Associations of Math Teachers. She also belonged to Delta Kappa Gamma and Kappa Kappa Iota. In her community, she served through the Abernathy Lions Club, the Order of the Eastern Star, and as a volunteer at the Lubbock State School.

Her many contributions were recognized with numerous honors: Abernathy Citizen of the Year (1972–1973), Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year (1978), and Masonic Teacher of the Year (2002). Known for her musical gift, she played the piano for countless Abernathy graduations and was a familiar face at the ticket booths during Abernathy football and basketball games. Mrs. Hardin will also be remembered for her thoughtful encouragement-especially the many notes she sent to friends, colleagues, and former students, whose lives she continued to touch long after they left her classroom.

Mrs. Hardin was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Hardin, and her brother, Dan Shipman.

She is survived by her sister, Jo Ann Collett and husband, Jim, of Midland, TX; nephews Matthew Lindsey and wife, Kim; Clay Foster Lindsey and wife, Zara; and Todd Shipman; niece Tracey Henderson and husband, Pete; along with a host of beloved friends and former students.

The family requests memorial donations be made to the Moorhead Hardin Educational Fund (accepted at any branch of First United Bank) or to a charity of your choice.