For 103 years God has been honored and the world blessed by the beautiful inspiring life of Willie Mae Hardage-Estes.  On December 1, 2021, Willie Mae peacefully departed this world for her long awaited eternal home.

With dignity, grace and a strong spirit, Willie Mae survived her exemplary pioneering parents— William Franklin and Nellie Weeth George; five beloved siblings—Catherine Knox, Hazel Larimer, Josephine Goodwin, William Arthur George, and Nell Johnson; two husbands—Pat Hardage and Pete Estes; her precious youngest son, Kevin; and a multitude of relatives and friends.

Willie Mae was born on January 11, 1918, during a raging snowstorm at the home place in Iowa Park, Texas, and was delivered by an aunt. She had a busy and happy youth growing up on the prairie homestead; was schooled in Iowa Park; and graduated from W.F. George High School in 1935.  Willie Mae attended Texas State College for Women for two years before transferring to Northwestern University in Chicago where she received a B.S. degree in speech in 1939.  She continued her education by taking business courses at the University of Texas.

For the next few years, Willie Mae had a variety of occupations, many that were uncommon for women of that era. Especially notable was her job as a radio DJ and as the creator and host of a radio program for women and children.

Willie Mae met her first husband, Pat Hardage, while visiting her sister in Washington DC.
They married in 1946 and took residence in Wichita Falls, where Pat had previously been living and serving as Postmaster before being called to wartime active duty. They were married 39 years and raised four children with Willie Mae as the devoted wife, mother, and community volunteer.

After Pat's death in 1985, Willie Mae began traveling, took up yoga and race walking, and became an elder in the Presbyterian Church. During 10 years of widowhood she had many suitors, but it was Linton Pete Estes who won her heart. Willie Mae and Pete married in 1996, built a cabin in Colorado, traveled the world, but found their greatest joy in the creation of a new family which now included Willie Mae's four children and Pete's two children, Emily Estes McAlpine (Roy) and Craig Estes (Jennifer). Pete died in 2014, but this family bond continues today.

Reluctantly, never wanting to be a burden, but graciously accommodating as was her nature, Willie Mae consented to move to Dallas to be close to her four children, Ginger Carlin (Bob), Kelly Hardage (Ginger), Mike Hardage (Lyn), Kevin Hardage, deceased, (Tania), 10 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren.  She resided at CC Young Senior Living,where she brought light and inspiration to the residents and staff with her sweet smile, quick wit, and strong but gentle spirit.

Willie Mae found joy in every day; recognized and was grateful for her blessings every day; and never lost sight of her eternal home or the loving God who would be welcoming her.  She will be deeply missed by those who knew her, but she has left us with hope and shown us the way to heaven.

The family is forever grateful to CC Young and the loving and caring staff who became the family that cared for and sustained her during the pandemic, the ice storm, and her final days.

There will be a memorial service at the First Presbyterian Church at 3601 Taft Blvd. in Wichita Falls, Texas on Tuesday, December 7th at 11:30am with a reception following at the church.
Memorials may be made to CC Young, Attn: Mindi Hail  4847 W. Lawther Dr.  #100
Dallas, Texas 75214 Please reference: For the Employee Fund.