I have such fun memories of my neighbor and remember so many of the growing up happy times that we shared. As an adult, he always spoke so lovingly of his wife and at the time, young children. May God bless Alan and all of you, his family.   Glenda G. Boddie

Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Mike has many fond memories of Allen.  Mike and Edna Powers

Henry Allen Hardy was born September 1, 1942 in Columbia, South Carolina to
Verl Hardy and Corine Uhrig Hardy. Allen was the middle of five children including
his older brother Earl (Andy) Hardy, older sister Sue Hardy Blanton, and younger
twin sisters Jean Hardy Brown and Joan Hardy Snow. The family moved to Nashville
from South Carolina in May of 1946. Allen began working at age 10 sweeping
the floors of Bill Clayâ€™s Sporting Goods for $0.25 a day. He started dating Sharon
Kesterson in 1957 at the age of 15, after meeting her at training union on Sunday
nightâ€™s at Judson Baptist Church where they were both members until joining
Brentwood Baptist Church five years ago. Allen graduated from Hillsboro High
School and attended the University of Tennessee Nashville and Belmont College.
In June of 1963 Allen married Sharon Kesterson, his wife for 48 years. They later
had two children, Stacie born in 1971, and David born in 1976. Allen continued
working at Bill Clayâ€™s Sporting Goods as Vice President / General Manager from
1968-1986 where he grew the business into the premier service-oriented sporting
goods store in Middle Tennessee. Clayâ€™s was awarded the Leadership Award by the
National Association of Sporting Goods Dealers as the outstanding retail store in
the nation in 1985. He created a radio commercial that won the Best in State and
Best in Nation Awards by the Outdoor Writers Association. Allen became Owner
/ President of Bill Clayâ€™s Sporting Goods in 1986 and remained there until the
store closed its doors in 1993. He served on the Board of Directors for the National
Buying Syndicate in Fort Worth, Texas from 1978-1990, and was voted Member of
the Year in 1986. He was chairman of the Fishing Tackle Committee from 1978-
1990. He traveled to Japan, Korea, and China to establish business relationships
with international manufacturers. Upon leaving the sporting goods industry in
1993 Allen worked as a general contractor. Allen was well known as a skilled craftsman
and loved working with his tools. Late in life Allen enjoyed spending his time
with his lifelong friend Howard Harlan on Howardâ€™s farm. He also enjoyed spending
Sunday afternoons with his daughter Stacie and her husband Patrick, and their
three sons Spencer, Carter and Tayler. He enjoyed building Pinewood Derby cars
with Stacieâ€™s children the past several years. He enjoyed special time spent with his
son David and his wife Amanda, and their two sons Matthew and Thomas. Allen
liked to brag that he had a basketball team of grandsons, and said just days ago that
he knew his yard would always look nice with five grandsons to look after it. He
passed on to Heaven on Thursday, August 11, 2011 after a brave and courageous
battle with cancer.

Sharon, it is so sad to hear of Allen's passing, and I grieve with you in your loss. You might remember the my wife Pat and I were your neighbors when we were newly weds at Woodmont Terrace Apartments.

To the Burke family: I grieve with you in the passing of your dad and granddad.  I know there will be a huge hole in your lives for a while, but hold on to the thought of him with our Father in paradise, and for the glorious reunion you will all enjoy in just the twinkling of an eye. Sending my love & prayers for comfort.

i worked next door at melrose lanes for many years.allen used to come & buy lunch at the snack bar as other employees did also.he always had a smile on his face & would say hello.he was a very nice man & he will be missed by all.

OBITUARY

Henry Allen Hardy

September 1, 1942 – August 11, 2011

Woodlawn-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home & Woodlawn Memorial Park

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