Hardison, F. F. and Eula Johnson

Lea County Families and History, Then and Now, Vol II

 Hardison, Fonnie Franklin and Eula Florence Johnson

By: Mary Ruth Hardison Mitchell

     Fonnie Franklin Hardison (born February 28, 1901 in Hopkins County, Texas to Albin Agnus Hardison and Ida Ora Reeder Hardison) married Eula Florence Jonhson (born April 1, 1906 in Erath County, Texas, to Joseph Alonza Johnson and Lula Thomas Williams Johnson) on December 26, 1923 in Crosbyton, Texas in the Methodist Church. They started their married life on a farm in the Floydada, Texas area. After a few years they moved on to Amarillo, where Fonnie found work in the Borden Creamery. Fonnie and Eula survived the depression years through the work at the creamery and keeping a milk cow, hogs, chickens and Eula's Abundant garden.

     In 1935, Fonnie's father who had homesteaded in Eunice, New Mexico in 1909 but had returned to Hopkin County, Texas, asked Fonnie to return to the oil boom town of Eunice o watch over the Hardison holdings. Fonnie left for Eunice to sconstruct a home for hos family. With help he put up the shell of a four room house. In September Fonnie and Eula and their five children and belongings made the move to Eunice. The house still had dirt floors and the openings for doors and windows had not yet been filled. The first priority was to enroll the children in school and complete their living quarters. With housing in Eunice at a premium, two of the downstairs rooms were rented out and the family slept in the finished attic.

     Fonnie's sister Verna and her husband Dam McGrady and son Billy Wayne settled in Eunice about the same time. Dan and Fonnie built five small rental houses on the family property. They also constructed, owned and operated a feed store and grocery on what is now Texas Avenue for about five years. Fonnie worked in the oil field for awhile, then entered into private business again. He operated the "Y" filling station and cafe east of Eunice for a year, and then purchased abd operated the local dry cleaning establishment. Fonnie and Eula stayed in the dry cleaning business until their retirement in 1970.

    After moving to Eunice the Hardison'e added four more children to their family.All nine children, six boys and three girls, atended the Eunice schools with most going on to a higher eduacation and achieving degrees in various fileds. Through the loving encouragement of their parents, the Hardison children excelled in sports, academics and especially music in the Eunoce school system. Some of the fondest memories of growing up in the Hardison home are those of gathering around the piano for some "good ole" family singing and it is still a favorite activity when the families return to Eunice. Both Fonnie and Eula enjoyed singing in church choirs, community singings and quartets. The were also enthusiatic dancers and many of their granddaughters recal the thrill of a spin around the family room with "Pa', as he is affectionately called called by his grandchildren, to a beautiful waltz. At one point Fonnie and Eula were called upon to waltz to a lovely rendition of the "Tennessee Waltx" performed by the Eunice High School at the annual spring concert. Oh what a graceful pair they were, the highlight of the evening for the Hardison children.

     Both Fonnie and Eula weree civic minded folks and took part in numerous community services and activities. Having atendd the first one room school in Eunice and then furthered his education with school while living in Amarillo, Fonnie had a special interest in education, He served on the Eunice school board for 25 years. Among other achievements, her served two terms on the Eunice City Council, and is a charter member of the Eunice Rotary Club. He was an avid golpher and was instrumental in establishing the present municipal golf course. Eula and Fonnie have always supported the First United Methodist Church. Both served in various capacities within the church. Eula was also active in the Business and Professional Women Girl Scouting, and the Garden Club. The local Grandmother's club is named after her.

     Several years after Fonnie and given up his seat on the Eunice School Board, he was overwhelmed at the annual faculty banquet with the announcement that the beautiful High School Auditorium was being named in his honor. It is with humility and pride that he recalls the years he shared in the trials and tribulations of building a superior physical plant, establishment of high academic standards and a "winning tradition" in extracurricular activities in the Eunice Schools.

     Fonnie's first love was always farming and ranching. He ran cattle on the family property for many years. In later years the establishment of the city sewage treatment plant on the Hardison land enabled Fonnie to irrigate a small farming operation. He raised grain for his cattle and established a permanent pasture area. his was a lovely oasis in the arid vicinity around Eunice and many young boy was drawn to the green fields on an adventurous outing, but soon learned the water was definitely not for drinking! The oil oriented townfolk soon became accustomed to seeing "Pappy" Hardison driving his farm tractor down the street of Eunice heading for a fill-up or repairs at the machine shop. The Hardison sons, son-in-law and grandsons fondly recall the annual pilgrimage back to Eunice to help with the harvest and storage of the years' grain crop. It was an unspoken, understanding among the young men that they were to set aside some of their vacation time from jobs to return to this task. One of Fonnie's greatest pleasures was his small herd of registered Hereford cattle which he started in the early 1950's and carefully developed, through study and management, into a well known and respected line of breeding stock, highly prized by fellow Lea County ranchers. Fonnie's stock, occasionally, offered at the Lovington Sale Barn, almost always brought to money for the day. Fonnie retired from the cattle business in 1978 and sold the family property.

     Fonnie and Eula enjoyed and appreciate many friendships established through their association with education, civic activities, church and work. Fonnie with his delightful sense of humor, enjoyed pulling harmless pranks on his cronies and suffered the consequences of being on the receiving end many times.

     An oft remembered example of Fonnie's civic mindedness is the time when he observed a slightly inebriated fellow leaving the local tavern located across the street from the dry cleaning shop at a time when the school children would be on the town streets heading for home. The man was obviously intending to drive so Fonnie quickly called on a fellow businessman to assist him in changing the mans mind about driving. Well, the tipsy driver had several friends appear and the attempted  citizens arrest became a fiasco! Fonnie and his cohort were attended by the local physician that afternoon and both sported battle scars for several weeks. Fonnie's young children were both frightened and intrigued by their father's black eye and cauliflower ear.

     Among Eula's recognitions was the local title of "Mother of the Year', and honor she';s earned many times over the hearts of her children. She was renowned for her delicious cooking and her dishes at community and church dinners quickly disappeared. Her peach cobbler is stoill a favorite family and friends and the memory of her chocolate and lemon pies makes the mouth water! Eula was an exceptional seamstress. She whipped up many a costume, cheerleading outfit, recital gown and lovely wardrobes for her children and herself on her trust old Singer. Eula was also entrusted with the clothing alterations of many of the townspeople while she and Fonnie operated the dry cleaning shop.  Eul's green thumb wa and still is the envy of many. For a good many years she provided fresh flower arrangements for church every Sunday morning. Before failing eyesight Eula could always be counted on to give a helping hand when someone in the community needed a friend.

     Fonnie and Eula bid farewell to five of their sons as they departed to serve their county in the military. Two sons saw action in the Korean Conflict, and one son served two tours of duty in Vietnam. All the Hardison boys returned safely to their grateful and proud parents.

     Fonnie and Eula still reside in the home, greatly improved, that they moved into in 1935 and are enjoying their pets, gardening, nine children and eight sons and daughters-in-law, 27 grandchildren with two more on the way.

     The children of Fonnie and Eula are: Curtis in Albuquerque, Francis Nichols of Ft. Worth, Texas; Kenneth of Denver, Colorado; Melvin of Albuquerque; James of Denver, Mary Mitchell of Eunice; Kay Jackson of Hope; Bruce of Hobbs and Don of Canada.

At present, on an occasional Sunday morning in the First United Methodist Church of Eunice, it's not unusual to find a pew or two filled with Fonnie and Eula and their descendants with one or more singing in the choir. It is the same church that taught and nurtured the Hardison children of their on-going Christian living, by standards lovingly required and encouraged by Fonnie and Eula Hardison.