Clair J Hardman Obituary (1939 - 2015)

"Valiant Son of God" Clair J Hardman peacefully passed from mortality on September 24, 2015 after a brief but aggressive and progressively debilitating neurological disease. Clair was born on June 28, 1939 in Logan, Utah to James Abraham Hardman and Lillian Rawlins, the middle son of three boys. Devotion and dedication to family distilled upon Clair at an early age. His mother contracted tuberculosis when he was a young boy. Out of necessity, Clair and his younger brother, Douglas, went to live with their maternal grandparents, George and Nellie Rawlins, in Lewiston, Utah, and his elder brother, Wendell, went to live with their Uncle Fred and Aunt Janette in Salt Lake City, Utah. Their father remained in Logan, Utah, working to provide for the family and attending to the needs of their mother. These loving and kind relatives remained central figures throughout the boys' lives. After a few years, Clair and his brothers were reunited with their parents in Logan. The familial challenges of his mother's illness limited Clair's opportunities for a typical childhood and adolescence. Most of this time was spent attending to domestic obligations—cooking, cleaning and laundry—as well as caring for his mother, who was physically limited by her illness. Clair cheerfully and obediently accepted these responsibilities. Clair held a fondness for music and musical theatre throughout his lifetime. As a young man, he developed a lovely tenor signing voice and learned to play the piano. He sang in the Logan High School choir and acted in high school plays and musicals, and was later a member of Utah State University men's chorus and choir. After graduating from Logan High School, Clair enrolled at Utah State University, where he pursued baccalaureate degrees in urban planning and landscape architecture. Clair paused his educational pursuits for two years to accept a calling to serve in the Southern California Mission as a fulltime missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During his mission, he became deeply converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ and would thereafter and forever look for opportunities to share the gospel with others. Following his mission, Clair returned to his studies at Utah State University. While a student, he met his eternal companion, Irene Downs, a "country girl" from Lehi, Utah, who was also attending the university. They were married for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on August 20, 1965. Following their graduation from Utah State University, Clair and Irene lived in a small home in Salt Lake City. Clair worked for his father and Irene taught home economics at South High School. During this time, their first child, a son, James Gregory, joined the family. Soon thereafter, Clair was accepted to a prestigious graduate program in urban planning at Georgia Tech University. Clair, Irene and Greg then moved to Atlanta, Georgia, so Clair could pursue his master's degree. After completing his graduate studies, the family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, where two more children, George Christopher and Ceanne, were born. Clair, Irene and their young family spent six years "living in the mission field" as Irene and he always referred to their time in Georgia and North Carolina. In 1975, Clair and Irene decided to move "back home" to Utah. Clair was hired as a city planner by Salt Lake County, where he worked for the next 32 years. After several months in a rental in Midvale, Utah, Clair and Irene built their family home in Murray, Utah. In the years following their move to Murray, two more children, Adam J and Kerilyn, joined the family, making five children in all. Family life in Murray was filled with dedication and devotion. Clair worked hard to support his growing family. He was committed to providing his children with all of the typical experiences and opportunities that he was denied and wanted for himself as a child—music and dance lessons for his daughters; and baseball, football, basketball, swimming and Boy Scouts for his sons. His voice was always heard above all others from the parent cheering section, yelling "Way to go, Hardman." Clair honed his skills as a craftsman in the family home, hand-sawing hundreds of boards and driving thousands of nails to finish the basement and build intricate storage areas to accommodate the needs of his growing family. Irene and he eagerly attended to every design detail in the interior and exterior of their home, often working together until late into the night and rising early in the morning before their fulltime jobs. Clair made family recreation a priority despite limited financial resources. The family would "love up" by regularly watching Broadway musicals and Disney movies together at home. Clair and Irene purchased a very old, but well-maintained Chevy pickup truck and camper. For years, the family spent weekends and longer periods together, camping and fishing in the Uintah Mountains and touring several national parks. Clair had no experience as an outdoorsman; yet, as with everything else, he embraced the challenge, relishing time with the family. Throughout his mortal life, Clair remained dedicated and devoted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He served faithfully in various LDS Church callings. His greatest Church service was to his family, frequently sharing his testimony of missionary work and living gospel though his daily actions and example. Clair's greatest devotion and dedication was to his beloved and eternal companion. For long periods of their mortal union, Clair compassionately cared for Irene as she struggled with sometimes debilitating health challenges. During the eminency of his terminal illness, questions about his personal well-being were answered with his characteristic "I'm fine. How's Irene. How's your mom." He will continue attending to her needs in spirit; he will continue dedicated and devoted. Clair was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Douglas; twin grandsons, and many beloved relatives and dear friends. Clair is survived by his wife Irene; son, Greg (Jill) and their three children, Katelyn, Joshua and Emersyn; son, Chris (DeDee) and their three children, Zoe, Noah and Jonah; daughter, Ceanne (David) and their four children, Oriana, Spencer, Eva and Ian; son, Adam (Jennifer); daughter, Kerilyn; brother, Wendell (Lorna); and many other beloved relatives and dear friends. Clair and his family express appreciation to the caring staffs at Aspen Ridge East Rehabilitation and CareSource for their kind and compassionate care during the several weeks prior to his passing. They also express appreciation for the countless acts of kindness and devotion from their many Murray friends and members of the Little Cottonwood 18th Ward. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at 11 AM, Brownstone LDS Chapel, 6410 South 725 East, Murray, Utah. Viewings will be held Monday, September 28TH from 6-8 PM at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 South State Street, Murray and from 10-10:45 AM at the church prior to services. Interment: Murray City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers Clair and his family would appreciate donations in his name to the Down Syndrome Foundation of Utah. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkiins-soffe.com. Funeral Home: Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary-Murray 4760 South State Street Murray, UT 84107