Mr. Carl Warren Hard, age 85, beloved husband of the late Bette Clayton Hard of Amelia Island, passed away on Wednesday evening, January 1, 2014 at The Retreat of Osprey Village. Born in Chicago, IL, he was the only son and the youngest of two children born to the late Carl and Corrinne Larsen Hard. As a child of 10 years of age, he was found to possess a gift of music. He grew up in Chicago and was a graduate of Fenger High School, Class of 1946. During high school, he was sought after to perform and play in various venues around the Chicago area. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and played in the Navy Band. After being honorably discharged, he, his wife and son moved from Philadelphia and later to Flushing, Queens, NY. He was a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music. In 1959, as Mr. Hard began playing on Broadway, the family moved to Leonia, NJ where his daughter was born while providing a small town atmosphere in which to raise a family and a short commute to his 30 years of work on Broadway. During his career, he also toured with the Fred Waring Band, played for various White House State visits, toured with the Sauder Finnegan Band, played as backup with the Jackie Gleason Band as well as for the Bee Gees. While living in Leonia and pursuing his musical career, he also worked as a Real Estate Broker. In 1991, he and his wife moved to Summer Beach of Amelia Island and settled into to a warmer climate and the life of retirement, enjoying golf and the beach. Mr. Hard had an appetite for history that he fulfilled as a Volunteer, Docent and Board Member at the Amelia Island Museum of History. In 2007, he authored a book on local Indian history Tales of the Timucua on Amelia Island. His wife of 57 years, Bette, passed away in 2009. After his wife's passing, he found a hidden talent for painting that allowed for a creative outlet and a new purpose that was needed during this time. In 2011, Mr. Hard relocated to Osprey Village where he made many new friends and enjoyed his remaining days. Mr. Hard leaves behind, his son, Steve Hard and his wife, Terry of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, his daughter, Julia Dyer and her husband, James Douglas of Lilburn, GA, a sister, Sharon Petraitis and her husband, Len of Pittsboro, NC and two grandchildren, Elizabeth Liz Dyer and James Jimmy Dyer. Funeral services will be at 4:00 pm on Saturday, January 4, 2014 in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley Heard with Pastor Ted Schroeder, officiating. His family will receive friends on Saturday at the funeral home from 3:00 pm until the hour of service. A reception will follow the service. OXLEY HEARD FUNERAL DIRECTORS

Published in the Florida Times-Union on Jan. 3, 2014