Karolyn Edmonds Hardaway

On April 7, 2024 Karolyn Louise Edmonds Hardaway, age 73, of Marshall, TX transitioned from a failing body on earth to a spiritual life of new wonder and health. She was born May 15, 1950 in Fort Worth, TX, the first child of Clyde Vernon Hardaway, Jr. and Kathryn Louise Crowder Hardaway, both deceased.
She grew up mostly in Hurst, TX, graduating from L. D. Bell High School. She graduated from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, TX (with some studies in Germany) and from the University of Kansas, Lawrence (Ph.D. in microbiology/biochemistry). Post-graduate research followed at Tulane Medical School (Dept. of Urology) and the Delta Regional Primate Center. Her subsequent employers included the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of TN, Grambling State University, and Eastman Chemical Co. (Longview, TX).
Though she was a brilliant scientist, her heart shone even more brilliantly. Her love, kindness, compassion, and empathy touched many souls in her journey.
Karolyn shared a love of music and animals with her husband of almost 46 years, Willis Thomas (Tom) Edmonds, Jr., a zoologist and musician whom she met at KU. Together they designed a unique wedding of equality--with a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah recessional inspired by the lyrics "My, Oh my Oh! What a wonderful day!" Their honeymoon was a West Indies Windjammer Cruise--with bunk beds! Later trips included Germany, New Zealand, Hawaii, and both coasts of the U.S. She pushed him to be more open and more adventurous, with little in their life that was "conventional."
Besides her spouse and four rescue fur-babies, Karolyn is survived by two brothers: Vernon Hardaway, wife Cindy, of Clear Lake, TX and their son Daniel of Houston and Jim Hardaway, wife, Lynn, of Houston, TX and their son Sam, wife Erin, of Katy, TX and daughter Liz Hardaway of Bridgeport, CT.
A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, May 4, 2:00pm at First United Methodist Church of Bossier City, LA and can be viewed on the church's website. Memorial donations may be made to The Nature Conservancy or to any charity that helps the less fortunate, whether human or animal.