Roger Hardaway passed away peacefully early morning on October 2, 2025. Dad recently lost, Ila, his wife of 66 years, in July this year. He was lost without her and longed to be with mom once again.

Dad was born in Galena, Missouri on January 23, 1939 to Joann Guilliams and Randall Hardaway. He was raised in Galena until age four, when the family left for California. Grandma Joann got a job at the shipyard in Long Beach working on the ships during WWII. Dad grew up in Long Beach with his cousin Richard, riding their bicycles everywhere. Dad lived above a barber shop and that’s where he and Richard learned to play poker at a ripe age of 8.

My grandma met the love of her life and they relocated in Fortuna when dad was 13 years old. He was a graduate of Fortuna High School and started working in the mill at age 17. He met Ila when he was 19 years old mowing the lawn of his grandmother. Ila’s family lived next door to his grandma. It was love at first site. They married a year later. Dad was 20 and mom was 17.

After marriage, they moved to Eureka and dad bought their house on K street. They both raised five kids — Vicki (Steve) Gibney of Eureka, Jeffrey Hardaway who passed in December 2006, Lisa Hider of Weaverville, Kevin Hardaway of Eureka and Jenny Davis of Arcata. He is survived by 13 grandchildren, Amber, Justin, Trevor, Joshua Gibney, Jessica, Joshua, Matt and Thomas (Montel, Hider), Darren Hardaway, Ashlynn Owens, Danielle and Jacob Davis and Hailee Davis-Hardaway. Jeff’s only child Autumn passed away in 1987. Roger has 21 great-grandchildren all of whom loved to play poker with dad and go fishing when he was able. He is survived by his two first cousins, Carlann Norman and Johanna of Alabama.

Dad worked for Georgia Pacific and Louisiana Pulp Mill until the Park Expansion Program in 1976 ended most of the mill work in our entire area. Dad’s favorite hobby was taking old toys, painting them and fixing them for the kids. He went to work at Pierson’s Building Center in the Paint Department in 1977. Dad was chosen to play Santa at Pierson’s for several years and he loved every minute of it. He loved people and sharing stories. Pierson’s had an advertisement on TV with dad dancing in it, everyone loved it. He had a contagious laugh and smile. He was a jokester always stirring things to keep it lively while working at Pierson’s.

When he retired all he wanted to do was fish either at the rivers or the ocean with his son-in-law Steve. Dad was always bragging about his big fish he caught. We do have pictures to prove he did catch very large salmon and steelhead. He use to tease the grandkids he could talk to the fish. Little did they know he made his own stinky roe that lured them to his pole. He was a collector of old piggy banks and coins. He made proof sets for each child, grandchild and great grandchild. Before his death, he even did one for his latest great-grandchild, Noah, born October 6.

Dad’s final days were at home with the assistance of Hospice of Humboldt and immediate family. He passed away from complications of pancreatic cancer.

A celebration of life will occur for both dad and mom (Roger and Ila Hardaway) on Saturday October 25, 2025 at the lower level Wharfinger Building from 1-3 p.m. Many of their kids, grandkids and great-grandkids will be present. Please come and share your favorite memories of Roger or Ila, enjoy our slideshow of their life together and have a bite to eat. There will be a Mexican luncheon provided since this was their favorite food.

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