Jay Hardesty

Jay Hardesty, 72, of Aurora, CO, passed away unexpectedly on July 12, 2024. Born on July 11, 1952, in Scott City, Kansas, Jay was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who dedicated his life to his family.
Jay graduated from Guthrie High School in 1970 and went on to earn a degree in Business from Oklahoma State University in 1974. After a short stint as "the Underwear King" at Lintz's Department Store in Guthrie, OK, he transitioned to a lifelong career in insurance. He worked for Prudential, gradually transitioning from an agent to management, covering territories in Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado for over 20 years. Upon a successful retirement from Prudential, he began a tenured career with MetLife. His career with MetLife relocated them from Oklahoma to Kansas City, MO. His successful tenure with MetLife lasted another 16 years before he decided it was time to officially retire.
Upon retirement, Jay and Debbie relocated back to Oklahoma to be closer to their grandkids. Little did he know, his grandkids would soon move west to Colorado. During COVID-19 in 2020, they followed their grandkids and relocated yet again to Colorado.
Jay and his bride of nearly 50 years were high school sweethearts, meeting at the city pool in Guthrie, OK where they taught swimming lessons. From that point on, Debbie was his faithful companion, supporting him through his career and various hobbies.
Jay was an active participant and lifelong lover of Corvettes. Throughout his life, he owned seven Corvettes, with his most prized being his RipTide Blue C8 received in February of this year. Jay's garage was a testament to his love for these classic American sports cars. He enjoyed participating in car shows and events and we all joked that he loved those cars more than anything. It's worth nothing that the grandkids always had dibs on them especially his eldest grandchild Aiden. Jay was an active member of the Central Colorado Corvette Club, serving on their advisory board and helping to organize several car shows for the club.
In addition to his love of Corvettes, Jay was an avid model airplane enthusiast. He spent countless hours designing, building, flying, and crashing model airplanes, a hobby he shared with his youngest grandchild, Kellan. Jay was a long-standing member of the Crosswinds RC Club.
Jay is survived by his beloved wife of almost 50 years, Debbie; his daughter, Heather Horne; son-in-law, David Horne; and his two grandchildren, Aiden and Kellan. He was preceded in death by his parents, Don and Donna Hardesty.
In lieu of a funeral service, a Celebration of Life will be held from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on August 10, 2024, at the home of Jay and Debbie Hardesty. Please come drop by and celebrate his life and love of his hobbies, Corvettes, and model airplanes. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Jay will be remembered for his hardworking demeanor, his ability to provide for his family, his dedication to his hobbies, and his unwavering love for his family. His legacy will live on through the memories he created and the joy he brought to those who knew him.
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