Patricia Hardeman

Patricia Ann Weaver Hardeman was born in Ohio, raised in California, and lived the life she loved in Wyoming. She passed away peacefully on October 20, 2026. She was 95.

Pat was born in 1931 to Frank and Maurine Weaver in Columbus, Ohio. Within six months the family was heading west to California to help Frank’s Uncle John on his citrus ranch. Frank and Maurine’s second daughter, Elizabeth (Betty), arrived in 1932. Pat fondly recalled her time on the ranch with her family. She remembered Uncle John as extremely hard of hearing, holding a horn up to his ear so people could speak into it. It was here that her love of animals grew. She loved riding her little horse Poncho, always had a dog, and helped her family raise Siamese cats. It was also at a young age that Pat decided to go into medicine. She remembered strategically placing one of her dolls in the driveway of the family home on Pepper Drive, so that it would be run over by a car and she could see how the eyes worked.

Pat attended San Diego State University, completed her nursing training at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, and graduated from the University of Southern California in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. It was during this time that Pat met her lifelong best friend, Marian DiStefano Taylor. The girls stayed and worked at Huntington Memorial Hospital for two more years.

In 1955 Pat and Marian decided to take a vacation to the X Quarter Circle X Ranch owned by Marvel and Irwin Lesher and Uncle Jimmy Manges. Pat likely talked Marian into this vacation, since she had already been to the ranch in high school while working as a nanny for a five-year-old boy. Like many visitors, Pat fell in love with the people and the unmistakable beauty of the Jackson Hole Valley. It wasn’t too long after this vacation that Pat and Marian decided to move. In 1956 Pat and Marian were hired as RNs at a little log-cabin hospital in Jackson, Wyoming, known as St. John’s.

With the help of Marian’s dad, they purchased a Ford station wagon and loaded it with their belongings. Sparks flew as they pulled out of the driveway and started off on their new adventure. They traveled first north to Canada, then south to drop off their belongings in Wyoming, and finally to the East Coast. The girls kept a diary of their travels, and reading the entries brought their children great enjoyment and lots of laughs.

They had many fun memories of working with Dr. MacLeod and Dr. Elmore. At this tiny hospital they needed to be jacks of all trades. They assisted in the OR, ER, OB and went on house calls with the doctors. They would often giggle at the tight ship that was run by the head of nursing: staff were not allowed to use hospital napkins if they brought their lunch from home.

An invitation to dinner from Becky and Roy Chambers led to Pat meeting a tall, handsome, and charming cowboy named Earl Hardeman. He would always say, “They hit it off pretty well.” Earl was also known to tell people that when he saw Pat effortlessly pick up a 50-pound bag of dog food, he knew she would be good on the ranch. They married in 1960 at the Chapel of the Transfiguration with a view from the altar of the mountains she had first fallen in love with. Earl had an interest in becoming an auctioneer, and so part of their honeymoon was spent in Indiana so that Earl could attend Auctioneering School, while Pat went to the movie theater, the only place in town with air conditioning.

Pat gave up her nursing career to become a ranch wife, but never stopped being a nurse. Earl knew it was a bit of an adjustment for her and would tell the story about being on the tractor behind the house at the Hardeman homestead north of Kelly and looking up to see Pat waving a gun at him. He joked that he thought she had snapped, but the truth was that she had spotted a bobcat and wanted to get his attention.

Together they raised two children, Robert and Heidi. Robert Earl (Rob) arrived prematurely in 1962. Before Heidi Lyn arrived in the winter of 1965, Earl moved Pat and Rob to town to stay with family, fearing that Heidi would also come early. She didn’t, but there was a big snowstorm and Earl had to ski out of the ranch to Kelly and then drive to town. Pat and Earl enjoyed working together and raising their family.

The family moved to Wilson in 1967. Pat placed great value on both faith and family. She enjoyed working alongside Earl and his family. She helped with branding, gathering, vaccinating, and doctoring any sickly animal. It wasn’t unusual for a sick calf to be in the house being warmed and bottle fed by Pat. She raised chickens and pigs. She separated the milk and made fresh butter for her family. At butchering time, Pat would make the most delicious liver and onions. She drove a buck rake in the hay field and helped gather firewood in the fall. Pat cooked countless meals and served innumerable cups of coffee to friends and neighbors. She was an amazing ranch wife.

Pat enjoyed supporting Earl in all of his many community activities including 4-H Livestock Auction, Jackson Hole Cattle and Horse Association, Boy Scout Elk Antler Auction, Jackson Hole Outfitter, Trout Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, and serving as a rodeo announcer. She was the wife who worked alongside her husband, quietly supporting him and happily watching him in his element. Pat did the same for her children, fully supporting them in all of their pursuits from 4-H to sports. She spent a lot of time sitting in the bleachers, smiling and enjoying her children's interests.

During this time, Pat also pursued her own interests. She enjoyed being part of the Jackson Hole Cowbells and Wilson Homemakers, serving as a leader of the Wilson Hoofbeats 4-H Club for many years, sitting on the C.C. Mosley Scholarship Committee, and helping with Quilting in the Tetons. She loved to read, try new recipes, knit, and sew. Pat always had a strong faith and cherished her time attending First Baptist, Wilson Community Church, or services online.

When the grandchildren started to arrive, it was love at first sight. G-ma, as she was known, truly enjoyed spending time with each of them and hearing about all of their adventures and accomplishments. John, Hailey, Matthew, and Gracie were blessed to have such an amazing Grandma. John recalls going on a walk with her and her telling him about the cattails. She asked if he wanted one, and he couldn’t believe his eyes when she pulled out a pocket knife to cut one down for him. He said, “Right then and there I knew how cool my G-ma was.” Hailey fondly remembers helping her G-ma make the bed, a task where nothing was left to chance. G-ma had even marked the exact folds and sheet placement with a pen. After all, there was a right way to make a bed and G-ma made sure it was perfect every time! Matthew says he always loved how G-ma lit up every room she was in and whenever she saw him, he could feel how much she loved him, even when he was telling jokes that were not that funny. Gracie still gets a good laugh from the time G-ma was serving them Kool-Aid but forgot to add the sugar. Even great cooks can have a bad day.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pat moved to Washington State to live with Heidi and her boys. She enjoyed her time there, but soon became homesick for the place she had called home for so many years. In September 2024, she moved into Sage Living Center. On her first day, Elaine Luton and Stephanie Brown immediately welcomed her. It was such an amazing coincidence that Elaine was there. Elaine had been Pat’s closest neighbor when Pat first married Earl and moved to Kelly. Pat thrived at Sage. She loved riding the trishaw bike, going river rafting and making a few ski runs in the winter of 2025–26. Pat loved book club, music, art, current events, and winning at bingo, and she especially loved any activity with the preschool students.

Her family is thankful for the long, wonderful life Pat had as a mom and G-ma. They are thankful for her examples of faith and strength. They are thankful for the importance she put on hard work and honesty. They are thankful to be part of the love story between Pat and Earl. They are thankful that God answered one of her last prayers: to pass peacefully in her sleep.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Maurine Weaver; her sister, Betty Causey; and her tall, handsome, and charming cowboy, Earl.

She is survived by her children, Rob (Abbey) Hardeman and Heidi Hardeman Hopkins; her grandchildren, John Hopkins, Hailey Hardeman, Matthew Hopkins, and Gracie Hardeman; and many nieces and nephews who all loved their Aunt Pat.

A celebration of Pat’s long, lovely life will be held in the summer of 2027.