Opal Elaine (Nelson) Hardesty

Opal was born on January 9, 1927, in Jamestown, Kansas to Alfred W and Elsie (Moe) Nelson. She graduated from Jamestown, Kansas and worked at Duckwalls in Concordia, Kansas after graduation. She married Charles Payton on March 30, 1947. They made their home in Concordia where they raised their family of seven children. She was a loving mother and grandmother.  Later Elaine worked at the Concordia High School for many years as a cook. She also worked at the Sklyliner restaurant, the Thunderbird restaurant, and the Cloud County Community College as a cook. She later went on to manage the Skyliner with the help of her husband and son. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Women of the Moose, all of Concordia.

She married Robert Hardesty on April 16, 1994, who preceded her in death.  

She moved to Dickinson, Texas in 1998 to be closer to family. She was a member of the Dickinson Senior Citizens Center.

Elaine passed away at the Clear Lake Regional Hospital in Webster, Texas on November 24, 2022.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Charles Payton, and husband Robert Hardesty, three sons; Charles Andrew, Randy, and Larry Scott, one grandson Michael Payton; and one sister Laura Lee Platt.

Survivors are, LaDonna and Mike Strait of Dickinson, Texas; Ron and Brenda Payton of Union Point, Georgia; Greg Payton of Santa Fe, Texas; Jim and Laurie Payton of Grand Island, Nebraska; six grandchildren, six great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren; one brother Duane Nelson and wife Norma of Jamestown, Kansas; and one niece Cindy Gerber who lives in Washington. 

Visitation will be Thursday December 1, 2022 from 1:00pm – 7:00pm with the family being present from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at Nutter Mortuary.

Funeral Services will be Friday December 2, 2022 at 10:30am at Nutter Mortuary, Concordia, KS. with Pastor Bob Burns officiating.

Burial will follow the service at the Danish Lutheran Cemetery in Jamestown, KS.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association in Opal’s honor.

For online condolences, please visit nuttermortuary.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Opal Elaine (Nelson) Hardesty, please visit our floral store.