Obituary of Callie Selena Hardy Shaddix

Callie Salena Hardy Shaddix passed away at her home on Shaddix Lane in Talladega, Alabama, Monday, November 12, 2012. Callie was born April 9, 1917 in Delta Alabama in Clay County to proud parents, Myrtle and Owen King Hardy. She began her education in Henegar, Alabama where her family had moved when she was three but returned to Delta in 1927. Along with her younger brother, Wheeler, she walked 2 miles each way to school for two years until school buses were provided. Callie graduated at Lineville State Secondary Agricultural School in 1933, the year schools were closed due to lack of funds. Her parents were determined that Callie was to go to college even in those depression years. There happened to be a very innovative home demonstration agent in Clay County who worked with ladies like Callie’s mother, Myrtle. They prepared and sent 3000 jars of canned fruits and vegetables to the world’s fair in Chicago. The prize winning canned goods brought in enough money to establish a scholarship fund from which Callie borrowed for 4 years to graduate University of Montevallo in 1937. She began her teaching career in Talladega at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind as Vocational Home Economics Teacher. This position paid $90 a month and included Saturdays from 8:00 to 12:00 patching boy’s shirts, pants and the linens for the entire school and Sundays teaching Sunday School. During her first year she met Walter Shaddix who also worked at AIDB and they married in May 1938. When school closed for the summer Walter took Callie on a honeymoon trip through the mid-west. They traveled with Mickey Martin and his Hell Riders which was a stunt show in which Walter crashed flaming board walls on his motorcycle. In 1942 Walter joined the Navy and was stationed at Camp Allen in Virginia and Providence, Rhode Island. Callie joined Walter except for one trip home to have the first baby, Nancy. When Walter shipped out to Hawaii, Callie returned to Talladega. After the war, Callie worked at home and expanded the family with Patsy and Cathy. She returned to teaching at the Alabama School for Deaf in the fall of 1949 but then moved to Birmingham after one year. Callie served as Girl Scout Leader and Sunday School Teacher at Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood. She resumed her teaching in 1956 at Mountain Brook Junior High School and was part of the original faculty at Homewood Jr. High when it opened in 1957. She enrolled at Samford University to renew her teaching certificate. Beginning in 1959 she studied at the University of Montevallo and in 1963 completed her master’s degree in science on a National Science Foundation Scholarship. She was invited to join Alpha Lambda Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma International Honor Society for Women Educators in 1963. She later transferred her membership to Zeta Chapter in Talladega and served in many offices including President. Walter and Callie returned to the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind and built their home on Logan Martin Lake in 1967. Callie taught science and biology at the Alabama School for Deaf until her retirement in 1980. She was honored in 1977 by the Business and Professional Women’s Club as Teacher of the Year. Callie was active in service at the First United Methodist Church in Talladega in the Kate Clardy Sunday School Class and served as president of the Hilltoppers group for many years planning meetings, presentations, day trips and overnight trips for retired members of the church and community. Callie is survived by three daughters and their families; Nancy and Kermit Cotter of Talladega, Chris, Stefanie and Gracie Cotter of Hoover; Patsy and Robert Lagen of Talladega, Tracie, Jim, Callie and Andrew Duelmer of Atlanta, Barry Walter and Denise Stanley of Pensacola; Cathy and Curtis Limbaugh of Lincoln, Ashleigh, Randles, Ethan and Elise Smith of Chelsea, Wil, Angel, Cole and Lauren Burton of Atlanta; one nephew and his family; Wheeler (Chip) and Laura Hardy, Dale Hardy and Beth Kirch of Huntsville and one brother-in-law and his family Leon and Lucy Shaddix of Auburn. The family will receive friends at the First United Methodist Church Parlor in Talladega, AL from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM on Wednesday, November 14, 2012. Funeral services will be at 2:30 PM in the church sanctuary followed by internment at Oak Hill Cemetery conducted by Reverend Minnie Stovall and Dr. Tom Smith. Pallbearers are Robert Hammond, Christopher Cotter, Randles Smith, James Duelmer, Wil Burton, Barry Stanley, Ethan Smith and Wheeler Hardy. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Kate Clardy Sunday School Class. Usrey Funeral Home will direct the service. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to the Kate Clardy Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church or Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind Foundation. The family would like to express appreciation for the kind, gentle and professional care provided by the Hospice and Home health care givers from AlaCare.