Obituary of Jacob Carson Hardee

Chapel Hill - Jacob Carson Hardee, 88, of Homestead Rd. Chapel Hill passed away at his home with his family by his side. Jake overcame a long list of health obstacles, through the years. He attended Chapel Hill High School and served in the US Army from 1950 - 1952. He worked various UNC-Chapel Hill jobs, including Chapel Hill Dry Cleaners and Hardee's Meat market. He was an insurance agent at Southland and Associates in Durham. His strong work ethic included giving back to his community. Jake was influential in establishing South Orange Rescue Squad and Carrboro Fire Department, where he served as the last volunteer Fire Chief. He went to work for Sheriff Buck Knight in 1969. After serving Orange County Sheriff's Department for 13 years, at the rank of major, he went to work as Security at Durham County General Hospital. He contributed to making a safer environment at the hospital. He loved farming and tending to his cows, horses, chickens, peacocks and pigs. He was known as the "Sausage Man" because he produced the best sausage in town. Jake's family played an important role in establishing Carrboro Baptist Church and he was brought up in a family; which included his parents, Isaac and Bessie Harrelson Hardee, whom are deceased, his five brothers, Elbert Hardee, Rev. Rudolph Hardee, Phil Hardee, Bobby Hardee and Buddy Hardee, all of whom are deceased, his sister Kathleen Fuquay, who is deceased and his sister, Josie H. Thomas, whom survives; strong in their faith and Jake carried it with him throughout his life. He married his first wife Lottie B. Cates in April of 1954. He and Lottie had had two children, Cindy Hardee Merritt and Steve Hardee. In 1971 he lost his Lottie and in June of 1972 he married his second wife LaRue Allen Newton, and became like a father to LaRue's two children, Patricia Newton and Tommy Newton. Jake and LaRue brought two families together in love and they also cared for his mother Bessie Hardee until her passing. The family later moved to Homestead Rd. and that became their home place, where Jake and LaRue worked together to create a beautiful place for the family to call home, and to spend may years together. Jake dearly loved his grandchildren, Spencer Wesley Merritt and Connor Jacob Merritt and his son-in-law, Wesley S. Merritt was his confidant and friend through the years. The family will receive friends, Friday, May 26, 2017 from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM at Carrboro United Methodist Church, 200 Hillsborough Rd. Carrboro, NC, the funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM, Rev. Wesley Thomas and Rev. Rainey Woodrow officiating. Interment will follow at Westwood Cemetery, Carrboro. Walker's Funeral Home of Chapel Hill is honored to serve the Hardee family. Online condolences may be offered at www.walkersfuneralservice.com.