Nadine Hardin Miller

Nadine Strang Hardin Miller, 93, of Fort Smith, AR passed away on June 29, 2023 at home lovingly surrounded by family. She was recently diagnosed with ALS and fought a brief and courageous battle. Nadine was born on February 2, 1930 in Lavaca, AR to Ernest Edgar Strang, Sr and Roxie Hudson Strang.

Before marriage, Nadine had corporate and banking experience. But her favorite job of all was becoming a flight attendant with Braniff International Airways. As a child, she and her brother, Bill, would lay in the grass, look up at the sky, and dream of flying one day. Nadine continued to love traveling for the rest of her life. Nadine loved life. She always saw the glass as half full and would describe herself in this way: “I always felt that I was happy.” Nadine valued people and had a special way of expressing generosity, kindness, and concern for others. She always made everyone in the room feel special and included.

Over the years, Nadine was an advocate for women’s causes and women’s rights. She was incredibly involved with the United Methodist Women. She held management and financial positions and traveled around the world with the Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries. She served on the Board of Managers and the Committee on Women’s Concerns and Section on Finance. Nadine held other board positions at Scarritt Bennett Center, Nashville, TN; United Methodist Higher Education Foundation, Nashville, TN; The Lydia Patterson Institute, El Paso, TX; and E. Stanley Jones Foundation, Potomac, MD. She was a past delegate to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church representing the Arkansas Annual Conference. Nadine was a past member of the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education Advancement Advisory Council; Sparks Woman’s Board; Methodist Foundation for Social Action; and the Mercy Women with a Mission Giving Society. Nadine was a member of The United Methodist Women where she also served as a past president, Hardscrabble Garden Club, PEO Chapter F where she served as president many times, Baptist Health Fort Smith Auxiliary, The National Huguenot Society where she served in the past as the Recording Secretary and President General, The Huguenot Society of America, The Huguenot Society of Arkansas and Texas, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, The National Gavel Society, and the Braniff Clipped Bs.

Nadine was preceded in death by her first husband and father of her children, P. H. “Hugh” Hardin; daughter, Tara Hardin Black; and son, William David Hardin. She is lovingly remembered and survived by her husband, Bob Miller; daughter, Betsy Hardin Rayle, and husband, Bert, of Dallas, TX; and daughter, Dr. Lori Hardin and husband, Mike Willis, of Dallas, TX. Surviving grandchildren and great grandchildren are Jeremy Hardin Black of Austin, TX; Dr. Ashley Hardin and husband, Daniel Rachman, and their daughters, Elle and Emme, of Dallas, TX; Michael Hardin and wife, Lauren Seelye, of Denver, CO; Albert Rayle and wife, Megan, of Park City, UT and their children, Harper and Bert; and Elizabeth Rayle Roen and her husband, Nick, of Dallas, TX. Nadine is also survived by Bob’s family, Mike Miller and wife, Kathy, of Fort Smith and their family; and Marcia Miller Clement and husband, Duke, of Fort Smith and their family.

One of twelve children, Nadine was born between two older and two younger brothers. Therefore, she credits her brothers for her toughness and women can do anything attitude. Because she played so many sports with her brothers, she excelled in all. Growing up, her children were frustrated when playing basketball, kickball or bowling with their mother because she always won with ease. Nadine is preceded in death by her parents; two sisters: Aline Strang Fuller and Maxine Strang Brown; four brothers: Ernest Strang, Jr, James Strang, Robert Strang and Bill Strang. She is survived by five siblings: Exine Strang Bellamy of Round Rock, TX; Harley Strang and wife Norma of Fort Smith; Gelene Strang Woody and husband, Harold Lee, of Sherman, TX; Ernestine Strang Cuthbert of Fort Smith; and Earlene Strang Gillson of Fort Smith; and many nieces and nephews.

Family and her friends meant the world to Nadine. Throughout the years, she was the ultimate entertainer and would beautifully host and entertain many gatherings from catfish dinners to “camp” for the children at the family’s Thunderbird Ranch in Pocola, OK. She continued to organize many other gatherings over the years. Nadine wore many titles ~ daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother but she gave herself permission to be herself ~ a strong woman full of wisdom and grace. She was loving, caring, sympathetic and generous with just enough sass and sarcasm to be a lot of fun and keep family and friends on their toes.

Nadine’s family is grateful for all the love and amazing care shown to Nadine. She had family and friends some near and others who traveled from all over the country to visit her in the final months of her life. The visits brought the biggest smile to her face and a relief from her pain. She always ended every conversation with “If I haven’t told you lately, know how much I love you.” Nadine’s family is so thankful for her amazing care from her wonderful doctor, Dr. Bart Sills; Melissa Curry and the staff, nurses and physical therapists at Methodist Health and Rehab; Magda Guzman, a longtime devoted friend of the family; Michael Thames and Jenny Uhrich and the caring team at Mercy Hospice; along with the numerous wonderful and loving caregivers at home that attended to her every need.

On Friday, July 7, 2023, a Celebration of Music will be held at 10 a.m. followed by the Resurrection Service at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary of The First United Methodist Church of Fort Smith, under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

Memorial donations may be made to The First United Methodist Church, 200 N. 15th St., Fort Smith, AR 72901, or online at www.fsfumc.org; or to Good Samaritan Clinic, 615 North B St., Fort Smith, AR 72901 or online at www.goodsamaritanfs.com .

Online condolences may be sent to: www.edwardsfuneralhome.com