Elizabeth "Jean" (Border) Harding

Jean (Border) Harding was born November 17, 1926 to James H Border, Sr and Helen Edna (Reed) Border in Bozeman, Montana. 

She married Warren G Harding on November 25th, 1944.   They had two children, Michael and Mary.

They lived in the Bozeman area for the first years, then Sheridan Wyoming and Lewistown Montana eventually moving to Helena, Montana.  Warren managed Gamers shoes for several years and Jean worked at AT&T in the data processing program.   Jean also sold Avon in most of those places for over 40 years.   She was always active in Beta Sigma Phi and played cards with family, friends and other organizations.   She was quite a card shark and played cards up to a week before she passed away.  She always wanted to win!!

When she was younger you could find both her and Warren on the dance floor even taking the kids that would eventually be asleep on the chairs while they danced.   Those were the days!! 

In 1968 after Mary was out of school and Michael was in the service they sold their home and ventured off to Pendleton, Oregon where they opened a family shoe store. They eventually had shoe stores in Pendleton, La Grande and The Dalles.  In 1982 they closed the Pendleton store and moved to La Grande where they lived until they retired in 1992 and moved back to Pendleton.   Jean kept working part-time in several motels, the Curio Shop and of course selling Avon until Warren became ill and passed away in 2001.   She married Eddie Malmin in 2005, who also preceded her in death. 

Jean is survived by her son, Michael and his wife Vonda of Kalispell, Montana and her daughter Mary and her husband Billy of Troutdale, Oregon,  five grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, 3 great, great grandchildren with another one coming in May.  She also has a sister Sandra Sullivan from Mesa, Arizona and brother, Tom (Skip) Border from Belgrade, Montana and many cousins, nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, James Border, JR and John W. (Bud) Border. 

Jeans favorite pastimes were playing bridge, pinochle and hand and foot.  She collected butterflies and her weakness was jewelry.   She could accessorize any outfit! 

Burial will be at Olney Cemetery at the Mausoleum in Pendleton where she will be put to rest with her late husband Warren. 

Honorary Pallbearers:  Terry Dumont, Dennis Bauer, Ted VanBeek, Steve Border, Dean Border, Don Border, Ryan Malmin, Nathan Malmin, Jay Border, Dick Border, Kirt Harding, Craig Harding and Tom Border.  

A memorial service is planned for April 2nd, 2022 at 2:00 pm at First Christian Church,  Pendleton, Oregon