James Wilson Hardee, 74, died Aug. 16, 2016.
He was born Oct. 9, 1941, in Tampa, to Woodrow Wilson Hardee and Nellie Ruth Green Hardee. The family moved to Plant City when he was 6 years old. When he was 14 and his sister, Jackie, was 12, their father dird. A few years later, J. Martin Brown came into their life was their beloved stepfather.
He loved the woods and grew up hunting with his father. His son and grandchildren learned to hunt. He loved to ride his tractor at his Madison County farm. His daughter said being on the tractor was his “happy place.”
He graduated from Plant City High School in 1959 and from Florida Southern College in 1963, where he played baseball. After college, he joined the family business, Hardee Manufacturing, a heavy equipment company owned by his uncle, Clifford Hardee. In 1977, Jim bought his own company. Hardee Equipment Co. Inc. operated until he sold the business in 2006.
Through the years, his employees loved him and his loyalty to them. He never once laid off an employee during lean times, even if he had people cleaning. He always respected that his employees were supporting families. He put his own family and their families above anything else.
He was a man of honesty, integrity, character, loyalty, great faith and great humility. He raised his family with these traits and was pleased to witness these same traits in his children and grandchildren.
He rose to great success in the truck equipment industry. He served on the board of directors for the National Truck Equipment Association, serving as president from 1997 to 1998. He also was a deacon at First Baptist Church of Plant City, where he served the Lord from the age of 6.
He is survived by his loving wife, Ola Jean Cason Hardee; daughter, Heather Taylor (Kevin); son, Casey Hardee (Lisa); grandchildren, Haley Hayes, Karaline Hayes, Jackson Hardee, Lily Taylor, Jace Hardee, Gracie Taylor and Jett Hardee; and sister, Jackie Hardee McCullers.
He was preceded in death by his father, Woodrow Wilson Hardee; mother, Nellie Ruth Green Hardee Brown; stepfather, J. Martin Brown; brother, Lewis Bernard Hardee; and sister, Norma Gail Hardee.
A celebration of life was held Aug. 19, at First Baptist Church of Plant City.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the First Baptist Church of Plant City Building Fund, 503 N. Palmer St., Plant City, Florida 33563, or to LifePath Hospice at ChaptersHealth.org.
Online condolences may be made at HopewellFuneral.com.