Joyce (Mersing) Hardman

Joyce Mersing Hardman, 82, of Kingwood, WV, passed away at her home on May 25, 2026, surrounded by her family.  After living a life of love devoted to her husband, children and family, she now rests with Jesus.

Joyce was born on May 15, 1944, in Crellin, Maryland, to James “Honey” Mersing and Ronalda “Sue” Rinehart Mersing.

She spent her early years in Crellin, before moving to Kingwood for high school. During her senior year, she decided to kick the chair of the boy sitting in front of her. This boy was Charles “Bud” Hardman. Bud and Joyce began dating in 1962, and would later marry on June 6, 1964. 

Joyce was a member of the Kingwood Baptist Church and dedicated herself to serving others but was most often found on the floor playing with the babies in the church nursery.   

One of her greatest joys was sewing flannel pajamas for her grandkids for Christmas. She lived life to the fullest even parasailing over the ocean in Virginia Beach.

To be with Joyce was to be in the presence of pure joy. She was a child at heart, teaching many young ones the importance of coffee, pizza, and candy.  

Beloved by both sides of her family, Joyce will be dearly missed by her husband and her faithful service dog, Bailey; children Terri Hoit (Jim), Suzanne Wright (Ron), and Mark Hardman (Jennifer); grandchildren Josh, Zach, Nathan (Audrey), Emma (Mel), Abbey (Christopher), Luke (Laura), Zane (Gemma), and Sarah (Austin); great-grandchild, Joanna; siblings Oron Mersing  (Sue), Kay Royce (Cecil), Donna Ware (Gary), and Joyce Kay Rhoda (Mike), brother-in-law Jim Hardman, and sister-in-law Sue Webber and her many nieces and nephews.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; her mother-in-law Anna Jean Hardman, brothers and sister-in-laws Jimmy (Ann) Mersing and Jack (Olivia) Mersing, and sister-in-law Ann Bishop.

The family would like to thank the hospice workers at Amedisys for their faithful and compassionate care during the final months of Joyce’s life.

Friends and family will be received at the Kingwood Funeral Home, 295 S. Price St., on Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 1pm until 2pm. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2pm with Reverend Mark J. Hardman officiating. A private inurnment will be at the Lenox Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made in Joyce’s honor to: Preston County Animal Shelter, 278 Poor Farm Rd., Kingwood, WV 26537, Kingwood Baptist Church, 201 Jackson St., Kingwood, WV 26537, or Amedisys Hospice Care, 5006 Mid Atlantic Dr., Morgantown, WV 26508.

Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.kingwoodfuneralhomewv.com. Kingwood Funeral Home is honored to serve the Hardman family.

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