Peggy Jo Hardgrave

Peggy Jo Kirkland McDonald Hardgrave, teacher, writer, actress, grandmother, fashionista, optimist, lover of God/children/animals, really all of mankind. Peggy Jo stormed Heaven's gates early Thursday morning; Heaven will never be the same. Peggy made the world a brighter place everywhere she went. She was 86 at the time of her death having fought a battle with Parkinson's disease for many years - she won and is now home causing mischief among the saints. Born in 1928, Peggy was the youngest of seven children with her closest sibling, a brother Ira Kirkland, thirteen years her senior. As a child, she was spoiled beyond belief by her parents and siblings and displayed a loving and dramatic soul that emanated throughout her adult life. Peggy began her college career at Abilene Christian College (now Abilene Christian University) in 1944 at the age of sixteen graduating four years later with a Bachelor in Education. During those four years she was always up to something from short-sheeting her suite mates beds, hanging their clothes out windows, running around dancing, or startling people as they studied. Peggy had three children from her 1948 marriage to Orville McDonald including Susan McDonald Anders, Constance McDonald Evatt and Kathleen McDonald Whitton. They divorced in 1977. In 1978, at the home of her beloved brother-in-law and sister-in-law Cecile and Chesley McDonald, Peggy met the love of her life, John Daniel Hardgrave. Married three months later theirs was a love to be envied and admired. Peggy and John adopted a son Chuck Hardgrave and continued to enjoy life. They enjoyed wilderness backpacking/camping, did mission work in Romania, built a house, started a school, and helped countless people in need always loving and honoring God with their lives the way Jesus taught. Sterling City, Texas was Peggy and John's home until 1992 when they moved to Red Oak, Texas to help raise two of their grandchildren. Peggy taught in the Red Oak Independent School District until her retirement at the young age of 78. Peggy served in the Sterling City Church of Christ and Ovilla Church of Christ in Ovilla. As Parkinson's waged its war, Peggy and John needed a place that could provide care for her in a loving and Christian environment. Chuck's wife Melissa found the perfect place in the Baptist Memorial Retirement Village in San Angelo. Peggy and John moved to San Angelo in 2008 and lived in a duplex together for six months; however, it soon became apparent that Peggy needed more care. She moved to Sagecrest Care Center six years ago where they have loved her and cared for her like she was their own. Peggy's family will be forever grateful to the Sagecrest staff for taking care of their beloved mother and grandmother. Over the years so many wonderful people attended to her but we would especially like to thank Patty Robbins. To celebrate her homegoing and remembrance of her life, the family is hosting a party/visitation at the home of Chuck and Melissa Hardgrave 6041 Sage Hen Circle San Angelo, Texas on Sunday October 19, 2014 at 12:00 noon. All of Peggy's friends are invited. Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, Adam L. Kirkland and Fanny Viola Kirkland; husband, John Hardgrave; siblings Garland Kirkland, Joe Kirkland, Ira Kirkland, Ruth Paulk, Ruby McHam and Hazel Hire. She is survived by daughters, Susan L. Anders and husband, Ron of Grapevine; Constance A. Evatt and husband, Gerald of Colorado Springs, CO; Kathleen D. McDonald of San Antonio; son, Chuck A. Hardgrave and wife, Melissa of San Angelo; stepson, Mark Hardgrave and wife, Debbie of Ackerly; stepdaughters, Deborah Collins and husband, Bart of Sonora; Charlene Negley of Sonora; 18 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren. Graveside services will be held 10 AM, Monday, October 20, 2014 at the Evergreen Cemetery, Ballinger, with close friend Don Crum officiating. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Peggy Jo's memory to Sagecrest at Baptist Memorial.