Betty Hard

Betty Golt Hard of Chestertown, MD died on Tuesday, December 9, 2003 at her home in Chestertown, MD. She was 77. Born on June 15, 1926 in Church Hill, MD, she was the daughter of the late Wilbur and Nettie Coleman Golt. She graduated from Chestertown High School in 1944 and completed two years at Wesley College in Dover, Delaware. In 1946 she married Warner L. Brockson, together they resided in Chestertown where she raised her family. In 1956 she went to work with the former C & P Telephone as a telephone operator. In 1963 her husband of seventeen years predeceased her. She later married Thornton “Buck” Hard in 1970 and moved to Centreville, MD. In 1981 Mrs. Hard retired from then Bell Atlantic after 25 years of service. While living in Centreville she was very active with Centreville United Methodist Church serving as president of the United Methodist Women and she was also active with the Jefferson Davis American Legion Ladies Auxiliary. In 1993, Mr. Hard predeceased his wife and in 1995 she moved back to Chestertown, MD. In Chestertown, she was very active with Christ United Methodist Church where she served on the Alter Guild. She was also very active with the Frank M. Jarman American Legion Post #36 Ladies Auxiliary, as a member she volunteered at Magnolia Hall, Upper Shore Mental Health, and Maryland Veterans Hospitals. Mrs. Hard was a 51-year member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and served as vice president, community service chairman, and held other numerous offices. She was also a member of The Telephone Pioneers, Kent County Red Cross (volunteering at Chester River Hospital Center), Golden Age Club, Kent County Homemakers, Betterton Senior Citizens, Merry Widows Club, Town & country club, All Seasons Garden Club, and the Class of 44’ reunion lunch organizer. She enjoyed sharing time with her grandchildren’s activities, band, hockey, football, and softball, gardening, ceramics, bowling, and helping others. Mrs. Hard is survived by three sons, Larry Brockson and his wife Ellen of Manhattan, Kansas, Tom Brockson and his wife Sue Ann of Easton, MD and Richard Brockson and his wife Linda of Arnold, MD; a daughter, Barbara Ford and her husband Dale of Worton, MD; a step-daughter, Marge Oertel and her husband Pete of Centreville, MD; two step sons, Bucky Hard and Richard Hard and his wife Julie, all of Seattle, Washington; a brother, Palmer Golt and his wife Maggie of Louisville, Kentucky; 15 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. One grandson, Joseph W. Brockson predeceased her. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2003 at 10:00 AM at Christ United Methodist Church High Street Chestertown, MD. Relatives and friends may call on Friday evening between the hours of 6:00 and 8:00 P.M. at Fellows, Helfenbein, and Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., 130 Speer Rd., Chestertown, MD. Interment will be in Church Hill Cemetery. Those serving as pallbearers are Wayne Brockson, Blain Coleman, Brian Brockson, Michael Brockson, James Rash, and Rollison McGinnis. Honorary pallbearers are: Megan Brockson, Avery Coleman, Anna Brockson, Laura Brockson, and Lacy Ford. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Christ United Methodist Church Youth Group, P.O. Box 262, Chestertown, MD 21620.