Samuel Uriah Hardie Jr, age 93 of Florence died on September 10, 2015 following a brief illness. Visitation will be Monday, September 14. 2015 in the atrium of the First United Methodist Church of Florence from 10:00 A.M. till 11:00 A.M. Services will follow at 11:00 A.M. in the sanctuary with Rev. Robert Sparkman officiating. Burial will follow in Florence City Cemetery. Elkins Funeral Home of Florence directing.

He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Virginia Bingham Hardie. He is survived by his son, The Reverend Sam U. Hardie III of Muscle Shoals, his wife Virginia; a daughter, Mrs. James B. Carlson, and husband Jim of Birmingham; 4 grandchildren, Cooper Chunn and her husband David, Mary Lord and her husband David, Sam Hardie IV and his wife Erin, and Hardie Carlson and his wife Rossi; and 2 great-grandchildren, Emory Hardie and Georgia Hardie.

Mr. Hardie was a native of Tennessee and had lived in Florence since he was a small child. He attended Florence State Teachers College and graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He served as an officer in the Navy during World War II on PT boats in the South Pacific. He was a Chartered Life Underwriter and distinguished himself in the insurance business as a general agent for American National Insurance Company until his death.

Mr. Hardie was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Florence and served many years as a member of the Administrative Board including a term as Board Chairman. He also served on the Board of Superannuate Homes for the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church. He was also a long time member of the Men''s Bible Class. He participated in many community activities, including Chairman of the Lauderdale County Chapter of Red Cross and the United Way and Co-Chairman of both the Community Chest and the United Fund. He was a lifetime member and past President of the Florence Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was one of the five founders of Turtle Point Yacht and Country Club and was Vice-President of membership for over 40 years.

Pallbearers will be Sam Hardie IV, David Lord, David Chunn, Bingham Edwards, Al Bingham and Jim Lane. Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Moore, Van Morgan, Uhland Redd and Bill Cadenhead.