Sammie Lucille Hardin, nee Tilley, passed away from this life on July 21, 2023, at Delmar Gardens South Skilled Nursing Center in St. Louis, Missouri.  She was born November 9, 1934, in Lamar, Arkansas.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James Tilley and Thelma Tilley, nee Ewing; sisters, Ruth, Laverne, and Sue; her brother, Billey; and two grandsons, Andrew and Matthew.  Two siblings were lost in infancy.
She is survived by her husband of over 71 years, Will Hardin;  her sons, Joe (Betty) Hardin, Ron (Becky) Hardin, Kevin (Kathy) Hardin and Dave (Kathy) Hardin;
Grandchildren, Lauren, Mindy, Jenifer, Ronnie, Mark, Tatiana, Zac and Grace; great grandchildren; Zoe, Tini, Kellen, Finley and Quinn.
She married Will Hardin in New Madrid, Missouri on August 25, 1951. They moved to St. Louis in 1953 and later to Cahokia, Illinois in 1955. In 1978 they moved to Country Acres off Imbs Station Road, where they lived until their recent move to Delmar Gardens.
They were long time members of Maplewood Methodist/Cahokia Park United Methodist Church.  Sammie and Will would make many lifetime friends, a result of their being active in the church.
Sammie and Will purchased Ripp's Confectionery on Renois Lane between Cahokia and Centreville in 1971 before selling it in 1973. It was known as Hardin's Confectionery during that time. Prior to that time, she sold Avon products in town. Sammie worked different jobs managing women's clothing stores in the area, including Melandie Shop in Cahokia and Her Wardrobe in Belleville.  She and long-time friend Faye Lanius co-owned Mode O'Day, located in Nova Plaza, Cahokia. When Will retired from Silk Screen Products Company, he and Sammie set up Hardin Screen Printing in their garage.  They made many friends in this venture, eventually transferring the business to a son and inspiring another son to open his own business. Their work effort and love of family are enduring marks of Sammie's legacy during her lifetime.
There will be lots of stories shared and recognition of a life lived well and with purpose.
Special thanks from the family extended to Delmar Gardens South staff and Breeze Hospice for providing care in a caring and dignified manner in Sammie's last time in this life.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
Visitation will be on Tuesday July 25, 2023, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Braun Family Funeral Home, 265 Quarry Rd.  Columbia, IL. Funeral services at Braun on Wednesday July 26, 10:00 a.m. with Reverend John Annable officiating.Burial at Lakeview Memorial Gardens, 5000 N. Illinois, Fairview Heights, Illinois.