Harold Ray "Hal" Hardaman

Harold Ray "Hal" Hardaman, age 76, of Gulfport, died Monday, December 1, 2008 in Gulfport. Mr. Hardaman was born March 3, 1932 in Miami, FL and attended Miami Edison High School. He served four years with Florida National Guard and in the U.S. Army 1952-1954, serving in Korea 1953-1954. In 1955 he joined the Miami Fire Department where he was in charge of the department's Respiratory Air Program the last six years, retiring in 1981. He was president of the Miami Firefighters Federal Credit Union in 1969 and 1970. In 1982 he moved to Gulfport where he served as Assistant Fire Chief of the Orange Grove Volunteer Fire Department for two years. He was a member of VFW Post #4526 in Gulfport, Member of Orange Grove Masonic Lodge #635, Gulfport Scottish Rite, Gulfport York Rite Bodies, and Joppa Shrine Temple. As a member of Joppa Shrine Roadrunners Unit, he drove a hospital van that transported children to and from Shriner's Hospitals in Shreveport, LA and Galveston, TX for many years until his health forced him to stop. He was a classic country singer and musician and as a teenager played in a band with Ervin and Gordon Rouse. While serving in the U.S. Army at Ft. Jackson, SC he played in a five piece combo for three months with Grand Ole Oprey stars Faron Young and Gordon Terry before going to Korea. After his service in the Army he played music with several different groups in the Miami area. After retiring to Mississippi, he would perform as a guest with many local bands all along the Coast and loved country dancing with his wife until his health slowed him down. He attended Bible Baptist Church, Gulfport. He was preceded in death by his mother, Sally Grace Hardaman and father, George Dewey Hardaman. Mr. Hardaman is survived by his wife, Gilda Marie Hardaman of Gulfport; a daughter, Barbara O'Brien of Miami, FL; two sons, Michael William Hardaman and Scott Douglas Hardaman, both of Gulfport; a brother, William L. Hardaman of Gulfport; and a granddaughter, Sara Marie Hardaman. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 4, 2008 from 5 until 8:00 p.m. at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, O'Neal Road, Gulfport. The funeral service will be Friday, December 5, 2008 at 12 noon in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery with Masonic Rites and military honors. The family prefers memorials to Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, 3100 Samfort Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71103. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com