James "Jim" E. Hardin

James E. Hardin, local rancher and former law enforcement officer and elected County official, passed away Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City after a brief illness at the age of 82.

Jim was born on August 13, 1944, in Wanette, Oklahoma to B.L. and Ruby Hardin as the youngest of four children. He graduated from Stonewall High School in 1962 and attended East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. He also holds an Associate of Police Science degree from Connors State College in Warner.

Jim enjoyed a career in public service that spanned over four decades – with all but four years of that time spent in Seminole County. In addition to serving over four terms as County Treasurer, Hardin served a term as County Commissioner and worked 15 years in law enforcement. He spent 13 of those years as a State Trooper. While Jim worked in law enforcement agencies following college, the Hardins lived in Warner, Sapulpa and Seminole and settled in the Little community in 1984.

Jim was elected as Seminole County Treasurer in 1990. During his time as Treasurer, Hardin served on the Board of Directors and the Legislative Committee for the Oklahoma State Treasurers Association, representing the Southeast District. He was actively involved in the promotion and passage of several pieces of legislation related to protecting taxpayer interests and supporting governmental operations in the state’s rural counties.

He was a long-time member of the Church of Christ in Seminole, where he was a former Deacon. Jim held membership in several job-related and community organizations. He was a graduate of the “Leadership Seminole” program and a member of the Seminole Chamber of Commerce. He joined other community leaders in organizing and supporting a Patriot’s Day Program honoring Seminole County emergency first responders on the tenth anniversary of the September 11th terrorists’ attacks.

He also served for over 20 years on the Board of Trustees for the Seminole State College Educational Foundation where he was an active member of the Audit and Nominating Committees. He was a long-time booster of Seminole State College athletics, following most every team during regular season and as they advanced through playoff tournaments. His support of the SSC Trojan Baseball Team led him to travel 16 times to the NJCAA JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado with the Trojans – including a trip in May, 2026.

Jim was married to Dr. Donna S. Hardin, Seminole Public Schools teacher and administrator and former faculty member at Seminole State College. They met when he was 10 years old while he was spending the summers in the Little community working in his sister and brother-in-law’s dairy farm. They married in 1962 and recently celebrated their 64th anniversary.

Known affectionately as “Cowboy Jim” by children in his extended family and community, he loved cowboy culture and history. He raised cattle most of his adult life and enjoyed horseback and mule riding. Because of his love of these animals and spending time outdoors, he routinely travelled throughout Southeast Oklahoma, northern New Mexico, Arkansas and Missouri on camping and trail riding trips.

Jim loved visiting with people and never missed a school or family reunion. He was an avid storyteller and enjoyed laughter and bringing humor to others. One of his passions was finding “deals” whether that might be an old pickup, an antique tractor or a new mule.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents B.L. and Ruby Hardin; sisters Billie Dulaney, Reta Newman and Minnie Nokes; and his in-laws Eugene and Frances Warrenburg.

He is survived by his wife Donna, of the home; daughter Terri Hardin of Branson, Missouri; daughter Kerri Williams and her husband Scott Williams of Henrietta, Texas; grandson Joe Dell Williams and his wife Dr. Tenley Williams of Rogers, Ark.; grandson Ethan Williams and his wife Madison Williams of Oklahoma City; and granddaughter Kaci Williams of Weatherford, Texas. His first great-granddaughter, Reese Williams, is scheduled to arrive in November of this year.

Other survivors include his brother-in-law Bill Dulaney; sister-in-law Marsha Guymon and her husband J. Carl Guymon; a host of much-loved cousins, nieces and nephews; and special friends Bettie Conn, Jill Reynolds, Lana Reynolds, Gil Turpin and Rex Wiseman.

Memorial services will be held Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 10 a.m. at the Church of Christ in Seminole under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in Seminole.

Pallbearers will be Scott Williams, Joe Dell Williams, Ethan Williams, Bob Dulaney, Keith Grissom and Keith McFerran.

Honorary pallbearers will be Rex Wiseman, Johnny Cradduck, Curtis Morgan, Wid Cope, Gil Turpin, Brian Sims and Shawn Irick.

The family has designated the Church of Christ in Seminole and the Seminole State College Educational Foundation student scholarship fund for memorial donations honoring Jim’s life.

Arrangements are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma.