Irene Hargis

Helen Irene Hargis, age 80 of Groveland, Florida passed away Tuesday, September 30, 2025. She joins the love of her life, Charles “Chuck” Hargis in God’s heavenly kingdom. Irene (as she preferred) was born on December 28, 1944 in Belleville, Illinois to the late Helen and Charles Purdy. She married Chuck Hargis on August 22, 1964 in Belleville, Illinois and had their only child, Bruce L. Hargis on April 16, 1967. Her world revolved around Bruce…until he had kids.

‍Irene held many titles in her life, wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, God-Mother, mother-in-law (She hated that one.), friend, paralegal, but Grandma and Great-Grandma had them ALL beat. My, how she loved the babies! It would not be unusual for her to sit and do puzzles, color or play catch on the living room floor. During the holidays her family could not wait until she made her famous pies and later she was seen teaching her great-grand kids the secrets to her special recipes.

Irene was always a hard worker. For many years she worked as a paralegal for various law firms and even for the U.S. Air Force. She won many accommodations and awards in her professional career. Her career followed her when she and Chuck moved to Florida to follow Bruce and his wife Yvonne and the grandkids.

‍Irene was an avid St. Louis Cardinals Fan, insisting on watching every game she could on the MLB channel and later in life after recovering from a broken ankle she picked up coloring in adult coloring books. Her family marveled at her masterpieces.

She is survived by her son, Bruce Hargis and wife Yvonne (Johnson) Hargis; grandchildren Aaron Hargis, Amanda Hargis Webb (Timothy Webb) and McKenna Hargis, Great-grandchildren; Paige Hargis, Aadyn Hargis, Zoey Hargis, Thomas Webb, Aaron Jones and Jozalyn Sullivan. Sisters Rosemary Yaekel (Jim Yaekel) and JoAnn Elmore and her brother Charles “Charlie” Purdy (Juanita Purdy). She is also survived by her sisters-in-law Barbara Bretz (Karl Bretz), Miriam Poston (Ken Poston) and Lorna VonTalge (Ron VonTalge), and brother-in-law Olen Lawrence Hargis (Nancy Hargis). She is preceded in death by her sisters-in-law Joan Ferris and Sarah Thompson and brother-in-law Wayne Elmore. She also leaves many cousins, nieces, nephews and God-children whom she treasured.

‍A celebration of Irene’s life will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. EST, Sunday, October 26, 2025 at Woodlands Lutheran Church, 15333 County Road 455, Montverde, Florida. The service may be attended virtually by livestreaming at: https://youtube.com/live/VVp-hSY84r8. There will be a reception immediately following in the social hall for friends and family to gather. We ask all in attendance wear her favorite color, purple if possible.

‍