Jerry Thomas Hardesty

Jerry T. Hardesty, 69, of Beaufort, passed away on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Crystal Coast Hospice House.

A funeral service for Jerry will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Ann Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. Taylor Mills officiating. Interment will be at Oceanview Cemetery following the service.

He was elected as the County Register of Deeds in 2014 after a long history with the local Republican Party. He served as party chairman from 1979 to 1981, was a delegate at the Republican National Convention in 1980 and 1988, and was appointed as deputy assistant Secretary of the Department of Transportation by Gov. James Martin in 1985. Beginning in 1990, he served for a period as director of the N.C. Ferry Division. He graduated from Beaufort High School in 1965 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University in 1969.He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He was a lifetime member of the East Carolina Pirate Club and a lifetime member of ECU Alumni Association as well as the Past President of Carteret County Pirate Club. He served on the Board of Directors for BB & T. Mr. Hardesty was a Beaufort Rotary member, a member of the Beaufort Jaycees, an ECU Education Foundation life member, involved with the Friends of the National Rifle Association and served on the Carteret Community College Board of Trustees from 1975 to 1983.He attended Ann Street United Methodist Church and served on the Administration Board in the past. Mr. Hardesty ran Hardesty Motors, a Lincoln-Mercury, Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge dealership in Morehead City from 1969 to 1984. He served on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association. He and his wife have owned and operated Hardesty Guns on Highway 70 in Morehead City for 25 years.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Karen Salter Hardesty of Beaufort; daughters, Caroline H. Bird and husband Stephen of Holly Springs, Allison H. Bernauer and husband Korey of Beaufort; son, Jerry T. Hardesty, Jr. and wife Sheila of New Bern; sister, Patricia A. Hardesty of Beaufort; grandchildren, Jerry T. Hardesty III “Trey”, Jacob Hardesty, Callie Margaret Bernauer, Max Bernauer, Caleb Bird and Reagan Bird.

He was preceded in death by his parents; L. Gordon Hardesty and Callie Gillikin Hardesty; brother, L. Gordon Hardesty, Jr.

A visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 PM on Friday, April 21, 2017 at Munden Funeral Home, at other times, the family will receive visitors at their home located at 216 Ann Street, Beaufort.

Flowers are welcome or donations in Jerry’s name may be made to the Crystal Coast Hospice House, PO Box 640, Newport, NC.

Online condolences may be made at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements are by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory, Morehead City, NC.