Mass of Christian Burial for Charles Lee “Turtle” Hardesty, Sr. will be 11 a.m., Sat., May 1st, in Claremore, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church with Father Paul Eichhoff officiating. Visitation will be held at the MMS funeral home Fri., April 30th, 2-8 p.m.
Turtle died Tues., April 27, 2010, at his home at the age of 75.
The son of Marion Russell and Frances Lee (Williams) Hardesty was born Dec. 19, 1934, in Tulsa. Charles graduated from Holy Family Cathedral School in 1952. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, and continued his education at Spartan School of Aeronautics graduating in 1964. He went to work with American Airlines as an aircraft mechanic and retired in 1990. Charles enjoyed riding motorcycles, fishing, horses, bird watching, and feeding the birds. He also enjoyed traveling, visiting family and friends, and showing the places he had been on maps.
Charles is preceded in death by his first wife, Louie May JoAnn (Peet) Hardesty in 1991; second wife, Esther Mae (Henry) Hardesty in 2009; parents; sister, Patty Vogt; step-son, Martin Henry.
He is survived by his children: Charles Hardesty, Jr. and wife, Lisa of Claremore, Russell Hardesty and wife, Leann of Sapulpa, Paul Hardesty and wife, Karen of Parsons, KS, John Hardesty of Claremore, Michael Hardesty of Claremore, and Jo Anna Williams and husband, Ronnie of Sapulpa; step-children: Monte Vess and wife, Jaclyn of Sapulpa, Micah Vess of Tulsa, Bennie Henry of Tulsa, Jessie Henry and wife, Sandy of Kansas, Clyde Henry of Taft, Rodger Henry and wife, Debbie of Kansas, Marci Hardesty of TN, and Eva Wallace of Tulsa; siblings: James Hardesty and wife, Sue of Tulsa, Dale Hardesty and wife, Janice of Mannford, Wayne Hardesty and wife, Donna of Tulsa, Gary Hardesty of Tahlequah, Claude Hardesty and wife, Carol of Sapulpa, Kay Wilburn of Tulsa, and Linda Schweitzer and husband, George of Missouri, Donna Thrasher and husband, E. B. of Glenpool; half-brother, Terry Hardesty-Burch of TX; 39 grandchildren, and 56 great-grandchildren.