Edgar Hilland Hardy, Jr.

Edgar Hilland Hardy, Jr., was born on August 20, 1938, in Houston, TX to Hilland & Leone Hardy, and passed away on September 3, 2026, in Cypress, TX at the age of 88. He graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in 1956 and married his high school sweetheart Erline Smith on August 1, 1959. After high school, he was involved locally in the Texas State Guard. Hilland received a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Technology with a minor in Religion in 1964 from the University of Houston. While there, he was a member of Tau Alpha Pi National Honor Society and on the Dean’s List. After college, he worked in real estate development for The Dinerstein Companies, Bergman Construction, and the Jamaica Corporation, where he helped create the resort community of Jamaica Beach in Galveston, TX.

Hilland and Erline welcomed two children to their family, Farand in 1966 and Jaelyn in 1970. Hilland began volunteering for Cypress Creek EMS as a medic and driver in the mid-1970s and eventually transitioned to the fire service in the early 1980s, joined by his son in 1982 and daughter in 2002. Hilland took over the family business started by his wife, Hardy Draperies, and this allowed him the freedom to respond to emergency calls during the day. He also drove fire trucks for Siddons-Martin Emergency Group. He was in the fire service for more than 40 years, many of those years as the Fire Chief at Champions Area Volunteer Fire Department. He retired as Fire Chief in 2010 but continued as a Maintenance Supervisor for Champions Emergency Services District until he could no longer work.

Hilland grew up on the northside of Houston, where his dad was a salesman of wallpaper and paints, and his mother worked as a nurse. Because he shared a name with his dad, Hilland was known as “Sonny” by family and friends when he was a kid. He recalled that his mom would drive him and his childhood friend Kenny Rogers (yes, the singer) to basketball practice, and they remained friends through high school at Jeff Davis. Hilland built his own sailboat and would often spend weekends sailing in Galveston with his wife in the early years of their marriage. He also built his own lake house at 177 Lake Estates in Montgomery, TX, where the family spent time during summers and weekends.

Hilland had faith in his Lord and Savior and was a long-time member of Champion Forest Baptist Church and founding member of Wildewood Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. He was also active in the Wind & Fire Motorcycle Club - Lone Star Chapter, uniting firefighters who rode Harley-Davidsons in the spirit of brotherhood, charity and community. Above all, he instilled a strong sense of volunteerism in his children and was the Best Dad, filling the role of friend and mentor to not only Farand and Jaelyn, but to his fire service “kids” as well. His life of devotion to his family and service to his community are his testimony of a life well lived.

Hilland survived a heart attack and triple bypass in his 60s and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his later years. We lost more of him every day to this terrible disease, but he could still reminisce on his time in the fire service. We are thankful for these memories; those years were the best days of our lives and experiences we shared as a family; this will be his legacy! We were fortunate that our Dad never lost his sweetness and sense of humor through it all. He still had a smile for his children with every visit, and he was joking with his caregivers even in his final days, asking for “beer and barbeque” anytime we asked what he needed. The family wish to thank the devoted team with HomeWell Care Services for their support during this difficult time, and Vitas Hospice Care.

Hilland is survived by his wife of 67 years, Angela Erline Hardy of Cypress, TX; son Farand Hardy & wife Jennifer of Spring, TX; daughter Jaelyn Hardy Rodriguez & husband Alfred of Cypress, TX; granddaughters Sydney Dawson & husband Cutler of Alexandria, VA, and Janina Rowe & husband Landon of Richmond, TX; and great-grandson Mason Rowe of Richmond, TX. Those waiting to welcome him Home include his parents Edgar Hilland Hardy and Leone Robinson Hardy; and many dogs, including his poodles, Oui, Lexi and Levi. Hilland’s paternal grandparents, Henry Hyche Hardy and Elizabeth Harper Hardy acquired plots at the Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston, TX in the early 1940s, where Hilland will be buried with his parents and grandparents.

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.’” ~Matthew 25:23