Thomas Walter "Sonny" Hardee III

Thomas Walter “Sonny” Hardee, III, a lifelong resident of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, was called to his Heavenly home on June 30, 2026 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was born on July 3,1938, to the late Thomas W. Hardee, Jr. and Eulalia Tucker Hardee.

Sonny graduated from Pleasant Hill High School in 1956. After graduating, Sonny believed he needed to move on and sharpen his personal skills after growing up in a small community. Accepting the advice from his father, Sonny enrolled at Louisiana Tech University, and found himself involved in several groups and organizations on campus as a business administration major. He joined the Pi Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, The Wesley Foundation, Business Students Association, Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity, and the ODK Leadership Fraternity.

Sonny graduated from Tech in the Spring of 1960, and returned to Pleasant Hill to work in the family businesses that included a general mercantile store, treating timber with preservatives, and raising cattle, cotton, corn, and peas. He was drafted into the Army in 1962 and was stationed at Fort Belvoir in Alexandria, Virginia, where he met Karen Conner, his wife of 63 years. Sonny and Karen eventually returned to Pleasant Hill to start their family while managing the family business, T.W. Hardee Company. Sonny was the local mail carrier for 25 years before retiring. He was heavily involved in Pleasant Hill Methodist Church, Pleasant Hill Cemetery and was one of the founders of the Celebration of The Battle of Pleasant Hill.

Sonny had a cherishing relationship with his family including his many nieces, nephews and friends of his children. While his children attended Riverdale Academy, he served as the van driver for the football and basketball cheerleaders, along with being the water boy for the girls’ and boys’ sports teams. Riverdale is where he received his nickname “Uncle Sonny”. If he wasn’t consistently mastering crossword puzzles, Sudoku games, and watching college basketball or baseball on television, Sonny enjoyed hosting family outings, driving his children to sporting events, and traveling to watch his grandchildren participate in their activities. You could also count on Uncle Sonny to attend all family events.

In 1970, Sonny served as his son’s baseball coach and went on to serve as a District Director of Dixie Boys Baseball in 1980 with a championship win for the West Monroe Dixie Boys baseball team. Later in life, Sonny’s favorite thing was listening to his children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and their many friends’ laughter, as they told stories on each other. He would also include a story about himself as well.

Sonny was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas W. Hardee Jr., and Eulalia Tucker Hardee, and brothers Joe Tucker Hardee, Sr. and Sister-in-Law Jimmie; and Ray Hardee; and Brother- in-Law, Sidney Sanders.

He is survived by his brother, Hugh Hamilton Hardee, Sr. (Paula) of Pleasant Hill, LA; and sister Sue Hardee Sanders of Pleasant Hill, LA, sister-in-law Evelyn Hardee & Aunt Vicki.

Left to carry on Sonny’s legacy are Karen, his beloved wife of 63 years, and four children: daughter Robin Hardee Thompson(Brett) of Yuma, Arizona; son Thomas W. Hardee, IV (Judy) of Mt. Solon, Virginia; daughter Mary Eulalia Hardee Barnard (Mark) of Shreveport, Louisiana; and daughter Kara Hardee Horton (Tim) of Brentwood, Tennessee; grandsons Conner Horton (Hannah), Cameron Horton (Macie), Matthew Barnard, Cole Horton; granddaughters, Mary Kathryn Barnard, and Caroline Horton, and great granddaughter Blaire Horton. Sonny was also adored by his many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Family members will welcome Sonny’s friends on Friday, July 3, 2026, from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Methodist Church, 1856 W 1st Street. Services start at 2p.m, with Rev. Ed Dilworth officiating, immediately following the welcoming. The interment is at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery on the corner of Hwy 174 and 4th Street.

Pallbearers are Conner Horton, Cameron Horton, Matthew Barnard, Cole Horton, Robert Bender, and James Procell.

Serving as honorary pallbearers are Tim Horton, Mark Barnard, Brett Thompson, Mark Wells, Harris Urda, and Randy Wilson.

Memorial donations may be made to Pleasant Hill Methodist Church, Pleasant Hill Cemetery, or the charity of your choice.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Paul Guidry, and his staff at SureAccess MD, and the Garden Park Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for the loving treatment and care they provided Sonny during the final weeks of his storied life.