Grant Reynolds Hardy (age 72) and Janell Ruth Clayton Hardy (age 71) died from complications sustained in an automobile accident. Together in death, as in their shared lives, Janell died Saturday, 30 December 2000 and Grant on Sunday, 31 December 2000. They were married 29 August 1950 in the Logan Temple. They celebrated their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary with their family and close friends last summer - a celebration that will long be remembered. They had eight children, 34 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Janell was born on 20 April 1929 in Salt Lake City to Albert George and Phyllis James Lambert Clayton. She grew up in Salt Lake City, attending Uintah Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High School and East High School. She completed her formal education at the University of Utah where she was an honor student and earned a degree in Elementary Education.
Janell spent her life loving and teaching children. For 26 years she was a teacher in the Salt Lake City School District. Her teaching career started immediately after college and resumed after a number of years devoted to raising her family. She taught kindergarten and first grade at Riverside and Lowell Elementary Schools. In recognition of her devoted service she received teacher of the year honors while at Lowell. She loved her students and remained a strong influence for good in their lives both inside and outside of the classroom.
Another avenue for expressing her love for children was through her church service. Janell served as a president and counselor in the Junior Sunday School in the Bonneville and the Bonneville Second Wards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her first love was found, however, in the classroom teaching children about Jesus and Heavenly Father. Janell also served as the Junior Sunday School chorister, where she taught children the beauty of worship through song. One of her true joys in life was hearing children, especially her grandchildren, sing Primary songs such as "Whenever I Hear the Song of a Bird." She loved to serve God's children.
Janell's later years were filled with joy as a devoted grandmother. Her meals were always inviting and her home was open to all. Her grandchildren counted on Grandma as a source of strength, stability and love. She was the "Grandma of all Grandmas." Grandma Hardy always had love for everyone.
Janell enjoyed music, especially when played by Grant and sung by her grandchildren. She also loved gardening, organizing family gatherings and, with her husband, reading mysteries.
Grant and Janell spent their years after retirement in support and love of each other. Each was a loving and dedicated helpmate through a variety of challenges.
They are survived by their three sons and their wives, David (Catherine Stobbe) of Salt Lake City; Stephen (Anne Bagley) of Boston; Mark (Shelley Dunford) of Los Angeles; by their five daughters and their husbands, Rebecca Ashton (Owen) of Salt Lake City; Ruth Schmidt (Larry) of Salt Lake City; Deborah (David Redburn) of Greenville, South Carolina; Michal Hales (Nicholas) of Salt Lake City; Anne Anderson (Kevin) of Salt Lake City; and by 34 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Grant is also survived by a sister, Ruth Hardy Funk (Marcus) of Salt Lake City. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Fred (Edith Stephens, of Salt Lake City) and Howard (Grace Murphy). Janell is also survived by a brother, Phillip James Clayton (Margaret Hopkinson) of Salt Lake City and a sister, Anne Marie Petty (Steve) of Redlands, California. She was preceded in death by her three sisters, Lucille Smith (Howard, of Salt Lake City), Alberta Krantz (LaVar, of Salt Lake City) and Noreen.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, 6 Jan. 2001 at Bonneville Ward, 1535 East Bonneville Dr. (1050 South), in Salt Lake City, at noon. Friends may call at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple on Friday evening, 5 January 2001 from 5-8 p.m. and one hour before the funeral at the ward. Interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery.