Mary Elizabeth Harden

Mrs. Mary Heidt Harden, 95, formerly of Pooler, GA and currently of Eudora, KS, passed away on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

Mary was born in Marlow, GA on December 6, 1928.  After graduating from high school, she worked at Union Camp in Savannah, soon meeting Henry A. Harden who would become the love of her life, and whom she would marry in September 1949.  Mary’s favorite things in life were making a home for Henry and their children, spending time with her large family of siblings and their children, worshipping with her church family at Trinity United Methodist Church in Pooler, cooking and baking.  Everyone who ever entered her home was treated to a slice of her famous Pound Cake.  Mary lived most of her life in the Savannah area, except when Henry’s job with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers took them to Kansas City for fifteen years, then back to Georgia in 1983.  After Henry’s death in 2004, she returned to Kansas in 2018 to be near her daughter and family.  She was surprised that “a girl from little Marlow” who never expected to go anywhere, made trips with Henry to Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, Denmark and Sweden, as well as to all corners of the U.S.  Mary took her southern hospitality with her wherever she went and left a trail of smiles with her kindness.  She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 55 years, Henry A. Harden, her parents Jacob Ray Heidt and Willie Lee Cochran Heidt, brother Ewell Heidt, sisters Maggie Mooney, Birdie Strickland, Minnie Butler, Odell Wise, Doris Wallace, Lida Peth, Sonia Siebert, Maree Patrick and Amelia Dominy, and several nieces and nephews, and dear brothers and sisters-in-law.

She is survived by one brother Charlie Heidt of Guyton, GA, one son David Harden of Arvada, CO, one daughter Martha Burbank & husband Bob of Lawrence, KS, beloved grandchildren Valerie Guile (Josh) of DeSoto, KS, Jason Ortiz (Erika) of Olathe, KS and Christopher Ortiz (Samantha) of Prescott, AZ; great-grandchildren Mishayla, Lilliana & Leo Guile, Wesley, Katie, Mason, Zoe and Joshua Ortiz, along with step-grandchildren Susan Polanska, Nora Washbourne and Caitlin Burbank.  She also leaves one sister-in-law Sadie Belt of Keystone Heights, FL, as well as more beloved nieces and nephews than can be counted.

The visitation will be on Monday, April 1, 2024, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

The funeral to honor Mary’s life will be on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Trinity Methodist Church located at 320 Benton Drive in Pooler.  Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, Mary’s family suggests making a donation to your local food bank, in honor of Mary’s lifelong passion for feeding people.

Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Homes – WEST CHATHAM CHAPEL – 901 West Highway 80, Pooler Georgia (912) 748-2444.