Dorothy Hardacker

Dorothy (Dot) Eason Duke Hardacker of Blue Spring, Mo. went home to be with the LORD, Thursday, July 4th , 2024. Her funeral service will be at the Gathering Baptist church in Blue Springs, Mo.. Wednesday July 10 th . Visitation will be at 10:00am with funeral to follow at 11:00 am, with the Rev. Nate Jones officiating. Corey Ward, Brian Ward, Chris Borchert, Gabe Swenson, Eli Taylor, Nathan Taylor, her grandsons and Troy Jarvis will be her Pallbearers. A graveside service will be held at Salem Cemetery off Hwy 172 in El Dorado, AR. on Friday July 12th at 10:00am with Rev Waymond Warren officiating

Dorothy Mae Eason Duke Hardacker was born April 13th , 1931, in Darnell, LA., to Dollie O. Lee and James Daniel Eason, both deceased. She is preceded in death by her husbands Henry Duke and Mark Hardacker, her siblings, James Eason, Bill Eason, Ellis Eason, Shirley Parrish, Mary Joy O’Brien and Mack Eason. 

She is survived by her brother Alan Eason (Martha) Dallas, TX, her children, son, Charles Duke (Mary) San Augustine, TX, daughters, Terry Ward (Rick) Arley, AL, Cheryl Taylor (Jim) Blue Springs, MO, Lisa Swenson (Ben) Lake Placid, FL. 10 Grandchildren, 16 Great grandchildren and one Great Great Grandchild River Gene Wilson born July 3 rd , 2024.

Dot moved to El Dorado, AR. when she was 7 yrs. old and attended Southside school. Dot shared with her children that the Salvation Army of El Dorado was such a great support to her family and one time allowed her to go to church camp. She dropped out of school early but went back after her kids were older, took night classes and received her diploma. This was on her bucket list.

She married Henry Duke October 9th , 1947, she was just 16 yrs. old. They met while she was working at a hamburger restaurant serving as a car hop. Henry had just returned from the war. They moved to Goldsmith, TX for work and that’s where Charles was born. Dot attended a revival there and gave her life to Jesus at the age of 18. They moved back to El Dorado and Dot opened her own business, Dot’s Beauty Shoppe. The shop was ran out of her home on Virgina St. and was the local gathering for everything that was going on.

She was an active member of 2nd Baptist church in El Dorado and always gave praise to Jean Hickman her SS teacher for mentoring her in her younger years. The family moved to Kansas City, MO because of work and they joined Noland Road Baptist Church in 1971, along with a whole bunch of other transplants from El Dorado. In September 1973 she attended her first Lay Renewal Weekend at the church, this event changed her life, and she renewed her relationship with the Lord. In her words, “I accepted the Lord as my savior at the age of 18 in Goldsmith, TX. It was at a revival meeting. I had not been raised in a Christian home and all I knew about Jesus from a little child was that he loved me very much. He loved me just like I was, a poor little alcoholic’s daughter. I am sorry to say that I was a carnal Christian for years after that until a Lay Renewal weekend and at our church in September 1973. I became a new person in Christ, a spiritual Christian and Praise the Lord, I have been growing ever since and I will never be a carnal Christian again with God’s help. He is the LORD of my life!”

Dot and Henry became really involved with the Lay Renewal Ministry traveling to many churches over the years, sharing their testimony to all that would listen. Their daughters Cheryl and Lisa would also attend with them. They moved to Birchwood Baptist church where she became a SS Teacher to youth girls and has stayed in touch with and prayed for all these years. They retired and moved to Farmerville, LA. on the lake there and became involved with FBC, where she was a SS teacher for many years mentoring young married couples. One day Dot received a call from the church secretary that there was a girl in the church who needed emergency placement. Her name was Lisa who ended up being an 11-year-old from Dot’s GA class. Of course, Dot said yes. Dot’s daughters Terry and Cheryl just happened to be coming to town for a visit and got to meet Lisa. The family was in love with Lisa and it was never a question if she would stay. Lisa’s 12th birthday was coming up, on February the 7th . Her new big sisters lavished her with new clothes and all that she might need in her new home. She was one of the family. Dot had a miscarriage many years ago and Lisa would have been around that age. Mom believed God brought Lisa to them. Lisa was and is a blessing to our family.

God called Dot, Henry and two other couples to start a mission church in Farmerville, La. They began meeting and praying regularly for God’s direction. Henry went to the bank in town and talked with the Bank’s president. The president said I’m so glad you came; I’ve been wanting to do something to help the community. The president opened his bank’s building to be used by the new church and supplied many of the things they might need. Crestview Baptist Church was born. Dot had her SS class in the president’s office behind his big desk. Pretty soon the new church was able to buy land and built a building with the help of the Nail Benders of SBC. The church called Waymond Warren to be their pastor. The church is still doing well today and has added on more space.

Having moved away from Missouri, Dot was missing her grandkids, and they decided to move back to KC Missouri. They got plugged into Plaza Heights Baptist church (now called The Gathering). Dot was a SS teacher and a Precept bible teacher there for many years. Dot was a prayer warrior and prayed for all her children every morning and was always in God’s word.

Her husband, Henry passed away in July 2005 after 57 years of marriage. Dot felt she lost the love of her life and she did. But GOD brought into her life Mark Hardacker. She wasn’t expecting to fall in love again. But at 78 years old she married Mark Hardacker on May 9th , 2009 at Plaza Heights Baptist Church with all her friends and family in attendance. They were married 15 years. The family called him papa Mark and he was loved by all. He preceded her in death May31, 2024.