Myrtle Lee Littlejohn Hardin

Myrtle Lee Littlejohn Hardin, 104, of Morganton, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 while surrounded by her family.  Born in Burke County, NC on May 27, 1915, she was the daughter of the late Lindsay Boone and Rhoda Amanda Clark Littlejohn.

Myrtle retired from Western Carolina Center (now J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center).  She also worked in various retail businesses in downtown Morganton.  Following her retirement, and well into her 80s, she enjoyed volunteering at Burke United Christian Ministries.  She also enjoyed spoiling hundreds of children in the “Parents’ Morning Out” programs at First Baptist and First United Methodist Churches.  She was a dedicated member of First Baptist Church in Morganton for all the years of her life.

A lifelong devotee of exercise, healthy eating, and daytime television dramas, a quick sweep through her house would reveal stacks of fad-diet books, various exercise equipment, and the latest issues of The National Enquirer and Soap Opera Digest.

Widowed for nearly 50 years, Myrtle was a fiercely independent woman who lived on her own until she was 98.  This included trips to the Carolina Diner for Saturday breakfast and a refrigerator full of Mountain Dew and Klondike Bars.  She enjoyed spending hours mowing the large fields adjacent to her home on her tractor and growing a large garden.  She will be missed by all who knew her.

Myrtle is survived by her sons, Ed Hardin (Flora Mae) of Morganton and Jimmy Hardin of Denver, CO; grandchildren, Susan Hardin of Denver, Terri Ramsey (Dave) of Greensboro, NC, Mark Hardin of Charlotte, NC, and Scott Hardin (Abby) of Castle Rock, CO; great-grandchildren, Abby Hardin, Jordan Hardin, Bella Hardin, Blair Ramsey, Sarah Ramsey, Ella Hardin, Brooklyn Hardin, and Gage Hardin.

In addition to her parents, Myrtle was preceded in death by her husband, Charles “Charlie” Hardin; sisters, Pearl Lipe and Ollie Brittain; and brothers, Lawrence, Raymond, Clarence, and Lonnie Littlejohn.

The family will receive friends from 12 to 1 p.m., Saturday, August 24, 2019 at the First Baptist Church in Morganton.  A celebration of Myrtle’s life will follow at 1 p.m. in the church with Dr. Thomas A. Bland, Jr. and Rev. Fred Schuszler officiating.  Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 459, Morganton, NC 28680, Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690, or to the Mimosa Christian Counseling Center.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.

The family would like to thank the staff of Grace Heights Health and Rehabilitation Center of the compassionate care shown to Myrtle.