Mary Ann Harder

1935 - 2025

Mrs. Mary Ann Morton Harder, Mother, Momma, Nanna, Nannie , Nurse, Ma'am of Starkville, Mississippi passed from this planet to her Heavenly home early Tuesday around one-thirty when most everyone else was asleep.

Now, onto her dash. You know that little mark between her beginning and when she left. Ann, or May-ran, as her relatives often called her, popped into the world in beautiful Heber Springs, Arkansas to proud parents Russell Spellman Morton and Mildred Blevins Morton, when autumn's crispness was just being felt. Ann later grew up in Newport, Arkansas where she spent a fair amount of time rescuing her younger brother, Russ from the music scene at the Silver Moon Club that would feature a fake I.D. carrying, underage, Elvis Presley and other young talents – all of whom later made it big. A short while later she was enrolled at Hendrix College in Conway Arkansas where she met a hunk with a dark tan, and a white dinner jacket who took her breath away and married her for 67 years until his passing a few years ago. (yep, that was Jack)

Ann later returned to classes at Mississippi State University and Mississippi University for Women earning a nursing degree, and worked as a registered nurse (while honing her sass and cutting wit.)

She was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church, the Savage Bible class, Daughters of the American Revolution, member and past president of Starkville Women's Club, and plenty of bridge clubs and knitting/crochet circles.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Russell & Mildred Morton, brother, Russ Morton, Jr. (a REAL rocket scientist at NASA), her husband of 67 years, Jack Harder, and their daughter Hilary Rendon. She is survived by her sons, J Harder (Michelle) of Charlotte, North Carolina, Steele Harder of Chiang Mai Thailand, son-in-law Andrew Rendon, and three grandchildren: JT Harder of Las Vegas, Nevada, Kyler Rendon (Mica) of Charleston South Carolina, Sarah Rendon of Starkville, sister- in-law Glenda Morton of Seabrook, Texas, and nephews Derek Morton of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Lindsay Morton of Houston, Texas.

There will be a memorial service this Friday morning at Welch Funeral Home. Visitation at 10, service at 11.

You can leave the family a condolence at: www.welchfuneralhomes.com.