Notes:

Bradley “Brad” Denton Hardison entered rest on Monday, November 27, 2023, at age 68 years. Born on October 4, 1955, in Niagara Falls, NY, Brad was a lifelong resident of Ransomville. He spent most of his adult life serving Ransomville, Youngstown, Lewiston, and neighboring communities as a funeral director for, and ultimately, the owner of Hardison Funeral Homes, at which he worked alongside his father Denton Hardison and uncle Gerald Hardison. The story of the life and work of Brad Hardison could fill a book, but space is limited here. Brad was a 1973 graduate of Wilson Central High School and a 1975 graduate of the Hudson Valley Community College mortuary school. In addition to all of his work in the family business, Brad served on the boards of St. Mary’s Hospital and Niagara Hospice and was a 20-year member of the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company. He was also a member of the National, State, and Erie-Niagara Funeral Directors associations for more than 40 years. Brad enjoyed golfing and tennis (both watching and playing), “mowing the back 40” on his farm, attending fundraiser pancake breakfasts and similar events, watching old comedy shows on TV, country music, and, more than anything, spending time with his family and many, many friends, and acquaintances As so many people have expressed, Brad was a compassionate, caring, and sympathetic individual, both at work and out in the community, as well as with his family. He truly made people feel significant and did all he could to fulfill their wishes for their loved ones. He was generous with both his time and his means, supporting many worthy non-for-profits and events, including the annual Lighting of the Wreaths parade in Ransomville. He was “our rock” that we could always lean on for so many things. Many have also commented on his sense of humor, his laugh, and his easy smile. Brad is predeceased by his father and mother, Denton, and Esther (nee Bradley) Hardison; his older sister Jan; his first wife Mary; and many uncles and aunts on both sides of the family. He is survived by his sons Evan Hardison and Ian Hardison; his younger sister Paige Hardison; former wife Linda Hardison; longtime friend and colleague Jim Ewell; longtime friend and companion Colleen Jackson; and many close cousins on both the Bradley and Hardison/Campbell sides. Visitation will be held at the Hardison Funeral Homes Inc. 3648 Ransomville Rd. in Ransomville on Saturday, Dec. 2nd 2-6 PM, and Sunday Dec. 3rd, also 2-6 PM; the funeral will be at 11:00 AM. on Monday Dec. 4th, also at the Funeral Home in Ransomville, Rev. Msgr. David LiPuma presiding. Burial will be in North Ridge Cemetery.Contributions may be made in memory of Bradley D. Hardison to, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Niagara Hospice, or the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company. Please visit www.hardisonfuneralhomes.com.

Bradley + Mary. Mary and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obituary of Denton Hardison

Denton E. Hardison, age 86, lifelong resident of Ransomville, died Thursday November 26, 2015 at his home surrounded by his family after a brief illness.


Denton was born April 13, 1929 in Niagara Falls, NY, the son of the late Dayton E. and Mabel (Benedict) Hardison. He was a 1947 graduate of Youngstown High School and a 1949 graduate of Simmons School of Embalming and Mortuary Science. A Veteran of the Korean War, Denton enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1950. He served a total of three years in Europe and Puerto Rico before his honorable discharge with the rank of Staff Sergeant in 1954. While in the service he married Esther N. Bradley on January 18, 1951. Upon his discharge, Denton joined his father in the operation of the family business, Hardison Funeral Homes, Inc. Denton was very proud of the fact that he annually fulfilled the requirements to maintain his active funeral directing license continuously for 63 years.


Denton has been a member of the Ransomville Volunteer Fire Company since 1946, as well as an Exempt Member. He was a Charter Member of the Kiwanis Club of Lewiston; a member of the O. Leo Curtiss American Legion Post #830 in Ransomville; a member of the Ransomville Masonic Lodge #551 F & AM; and a member of the NY State Funeral Directors Association, the Erie Niagara Funeral Directors Association, and the National Funeral Directors Association. Denton was a member and long time supporter of St. John Episcopal Church in Youngstown. He enjoyed vacationing with his family and friends on fishing trips in Canada and wintering in Myrtle Beach, SC for many years. He also enjoyed NASCAR and local stock car racing.


He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Esther; his children, Jan and Bradley Hardison both of Ransomville, and Paige Hardison of Lindenhurst, NY; two grandsons, Evan and Ian Hardison; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Joyce Campbell and his brother, Gerald Hardison.


Friends may call at HARDISON FUNERAL HOME, 3648 Ransomville Road, Ransomville on Tuesday from 7 - 9 PM and Wednesday from 2 - 4 and 7 - 9 PM. Funeral Services will be held Thursday, December 3, at 11:00 am in the funeral home, with the Rev. Charles Lamb officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the North Ridge Cemetery, Church Rd., Town of Cambria. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ransomville Fire Co. Antique Truck Fund, PO Box 239, Ransomville, NY 14131.

Denton married BRADLEY, Esther Nancy on 18 Jan 1951 in Ransomville, Niagara County, NY. Esther (daughter of BRADLEY, Frank H and LAFLER, Theda B) was born on 31 Oct 1926 in Ransomville, Niagara County, NY; died on 20 Jan 2021 in Ransomville, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obituary of Esther Nancy Hardison
On January 20, 2021, Esther Nancy Bradley Hardison passed away peacefully at home in the care of her family and of Niagara Hospice. She was 94. She was the daughter of the late Frank and Theda Bradley. Esther lived her whole life in Ransomville, New York, beginning with having been born on Halloween day, 1926, on the Bradley farm. She worked along with her parents and siblings raising and selling a great variety of fruits and vegetables. Esther was an excellent student and loved to read and was even spelling bee champion of her class one year. She graduated from Wilson High School at the age of 16 in 1942. She was a frequent patron of the Ransomville library, and often traded books with her sister Millie in their adult years.After high school, Esther continued to work on the Bradley farm, and also worked for a few years at Carborundum in Lockport. Esther married Denton Edson Hardison on January 18, 1951 at the Porter Center United Methodist Church, shortly before Denton was enlisted in the Air Force. During his time of service, the couple moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Esther gave birth to their first child, Jan. Soon after, the young family returned to Ransomville to move into the house which they have occupied for 65 years. Esther’s most important and longest held job was that of homemaker and mother to Jan, Brad, and Paige. While raising her three children, Esther found time to be active in community groups. She served in the Ransomville Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary; she was a founding member of the Ransomville Garden Club; she was a member of the Ransomville United Methodist Church; and she participated in the Kiwanis Peach Festival by serving on Peach Queen Committee and by in the Peach Shortcake tent. Esther enjoyed snowmobiling and attending social events with Denton and their friends. The Hardison family vacationed on various lakes in Ontario, Canada, where they enjoyed fishing and boating. In later years, Esther enjoyed traveling with Denton, visiting famous places throughout the United States; they also spent time in Myrtle Beach, SC. In addition to reading, Esther enjoyed watching “The Wheel of Fortune”; listening to Swing and Vocal Jazz music. In later years, she enjoyed birdwatching and looking out the picture window. Mostly, she enjoyed spending time with her family. She is survived by her loving children, son Bradley and daughter Paige, grandsons Evan and Ian Hardison; sister Mildred “Millie” (late Robert) Hillman; numerous nieces and nephews; and many good neighbors and friends that she had made over her long life. Esther was pre-deceased by her oldest daughter Jan Hardison; her husband of nearly 65 years, Denton Hardison; brothers Loren Bradley; Miles (late Viola) Bradley; and Harvey (late Jean) Bradley; sisters Marion (late Seward) Shippy; Dora (late Jim) Chestnut; and Nettie (late Grant) Martin; brother-in-law Gerald (late Marion) Hardison and sister-in-law Joyce Campbell (late Roy, Sr.) Just 2 days before Esther passed, she remembered what would have been Denton and Esther's 70th wedding anniversary on January 18th.Services will be privately held with her family. Memorials may be made to the Ransomville Free Library 3733 Ransomville Rd. Ransomville, NY 14131 or the Ransomville United Methodist Church PO Box 250 Ransomville, NY 14131. Arrangements entrusted to HARDISON FUNERAL HOMES INC. Please visit www.hardisonfuneralhomes.com for online registry.

Notes:

Lockport NY Union Sun Journal - 5/6/1970

HARDISON - Dayton E., sud-
deny, May 4,, 1970, of 3648 Ran-
somvile Road, Ransomville,, N.
Y. Husband of Mabel (nee Bene-
dict), father of Mrs. Roy
(Joyce) Campbell of Ransomville,
Gerald A. Hardison at
home, and Denton E. Hardison
of Ransomville. Also survived
by seven grandchildren. Brother
of Hollis Hardison of North
Tonawanda. Friends may call
Tuesday and Wednesday from
2-5 and 7-9 p.m. at the Hardison
Funeral Home, Ransomville,
N.Y. where funeral services
will be held Thursday at 2 p.m
sor for Manufacturers and Tra
ders Trust Co., today announced
the appointment of Kenneth
W. Paulin to the position of
assistant secretary and lending
officer for the Niagara Zone,
and Clelland J. Ward, assistant!
He is a graduate of Canis
ius College and Cornell University
Banker's Agricultural
School. Mr. Paulin, his wife and
five children reside at 5886 Marion
Ave., Lockport.
Mr. Ward is a graduate of
secretary, as manager of the Tarkjo College in Tarkio, Mo.
South Transit Office. iand joined the M&T Rank in
Mr. Paulin joined the M&T June of 1964. He served in the
Bank in June 1963 as a mem-bank's Grand Island, Kenmore
ber of the Executive Training
Program.
Prior to his present promotion,
Mr. Paulin was manager
Interment in North Ridge Ceme-
tery. Memorials may be made
to St John's Episcopal Church
Memorial Fund, Youngs-
town, N.Y. Ransomville Lodge
No. 551 F & AM will conduct
memorial services Wednessday
at 7:30 p.m. at the Funeral
home.

Dayton married BENEDICT, Mabel I on 6 Apr 1921 in Town of Wilson, Niagara County, NY. Mabel (daughter of BENEDICT, Allen J and AUSTIN, Frances) was born on 25 Jan 1896 in New York; died in Dec 1982 in Ransomville, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Niagara Gazette - 4/9/1921

A pretty wedding was solemnized at
the home of Mr. and Mrs. Allen J.
Benedict on the Randall road at six
o'clock Wednesday evenlng, when
their daughter. Mabel I , was united In
marriage to Dayton K Hardison of
North Ridge by the Rev. H. K. Bart-,
lett of Lackawanna, formerly of North
Ridge, In the presence'of 30 relatives
and friends. ; The ring service was
used, and Mendelsohn's wedding march
was played by the bride's sister. Miss
Ruby Benedict. The attendants were
Miss Fern Hardison. sister . of the
groom, and George Benedict,, brother of
the bride. The bride was attended by

NOTE: balance of article cut-off

Frank married LAFLER, Theda B on 12 Jan 1910 in Olcott, Niagara County, NY. Theda (daughter of LAFLER, Edward and MILES, Jessie) was born on 23 Jul 1890 in North Ridge, Town of Cambria, Niagara County, NY; died in Apr 1980 in Ransomville, Niagara County, NY. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lockport NY Union Sun Journal- 1/5/1960

"Hard work, a big family and lots of love is the
tested and proven formula cited by Mr. and Mrs. Frank
H. Bradley on the eve of their 50th wedding anniversary
which will be celebrated at an open house Sunday
from 2 to 5 at the home of their daughter and son-in- .
law, Mr. and Mrs. Denton E. Hardison of 1885 S. Lake
St., Ransomville.
Mr. and Mrs. Bradley were
married Jan. 12, 1910 by the late
Rev. C. M. Schaubacher at the
Methodist parsonage in Olcott.
They honeymooned in Buffalo,
after a trolley ride from Lock-
port where they left their horse
and cutter at a livery stable for
several days.
Mr. Bradlley was born n North
Ridge April 23, 1886,, the son of
the late Alfred and Lucy Belknap
Bradley, and his wife, the former
Theda Lafler,, was born July 23,,
1890, the daughter of the late Ed-
ward and Jessie Miles Lafler, also
of North Ridge.
Forty years ago the couple
moved from North Ridge to their
present farm home at 1060 Dick-
ersonville Rd., Ransomville. Mr.
Bradley still farms and takes
produce to market in season. As
a member of the Farm Bureau,
he has received his 25-year pin.
There are two sons, Miles Brad-
ley of East Otto, and Harvey
Bradley of Ransomville; five
daughters, Mrs. Marion Shippy,
Mrs.. Nettie Martin, both of
Youngsstown; Mrs.. Dora Chest-
nut, Mrs.. Mildred Hillman and
Mrs. Esther Hardison, all of Ran-
somvile; 24 grandchildren and
one great-grandchild.