Dorthea Belle Hardin

Dorthea B. Hardin, age 89, passed to Glory on April 1, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Dorthea was born on October 14, 1934, and grew up on a farm just outside Winters, Texas. She was very much a product of the Great Depression. Having picked cotton at age five, she became determined to leave that type of life in the rearview mirror.

Dorthea met Elton Cates of San Angelo at a fast-pitch softball tournament, which was so popular in the 50’s in West Texas. Elton was an incredibly talented windmill-style pitcher. Dorthea’s marriage to Elton meant attending many softball games and traveling on buses all across West Texas.

Cy Cates was born in 1953 in San Angelo, so their family began, and they later moved to Alice, Texas. In 1957, Craig came along. Dorthea and Elton lived next door to Ruth and Pinky Davis, lifelong friends as well as, ultimately, killer bridge and gin rummy players. Dorthea was chosen by the group to attend bridge lessons in the evening while Ruth, Pinky and Elton took turns babysitting the kids. Dorthea then would come back and teach everyone else the game. While in Alice, Dorthea learned to play golf, and she enjoyed the game until early in her seventies.

The family moved back to San Angelo in 1964 when Elton took a job with Allstate. In 1966, tragedy struck. Dorthea entered the workforce to support her family, working for Ethicon while at the same time putting herself through Angelo State University and earning a Bachelor of Business Administration. Her life lesson she instilled into her boys was college was the requirement.

Three years later, in 1969, Dorthea went to Mexico with friends Mary and Tom Malone. There in the famous bar at Ma Crosby’s, Dorthea met Jim Hardin, a CPA from Del Rio, whom she married. Dorthea would often say, “Jim married all three of us and never knew what hit him.”

So, the family moved to Del Rio where Dorthea played golf and bridge and continued to raise their boys. Jim passed away in January of 2007 and Dorthea’s neighbors, Marilyn and JD Burke, became steadfast friends and would look after her and take her to plays and other fun events in San Antonio.
In 2010, Dorthea moved to San Antonio, where she lived in Frankie Lee Harlow’s condo. After five years she moved back home to Del Rio, as she was not entirely comfortable living in the big city. Later she moved to Richmond, Texas. There her son Cy and his girls looked after her until her final move to San Antonio, where she was cared for by her son Craig.

In her later years, Dorthea suffered from Alzheimer’s-related dementia. It was particularly tough on her as she had always had a fantastic memory. It was often said that she could make a grown man cry by whipping him in gin rummy.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Henrietta and Paschal Frierson; a brother, Von Rhea Frierson; a sister, Pam Frierson; and a daughter-in-law, Mary Weller Cates. Surviving are her two sons, Cy Cates and Craig Cates; daughter-in-law, Robin Cates; siblings Jerry Frierson and wife Sonia, Patti Shaw and husband Glen, Tommy Frierson and wife Becca; and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Shelby Bower and husband Stephen, Lindsay Cates and her husband George Patterson; three great-grandchildren, Alice Bower, Townes Bower, and Talulla Patterson.

The family is very grateful to Dorthea’s devoted caregivers, Christina Urrutia who cared for her during the years of 2020-2022, Christina Benavides, Nena Dominguez and Lorena Munguia for their kindness and compassion the past two years.

Dorthea was a person of great talent, character and resolve. She lived a remarkable life and touched the lives of many who will treasure her memory.