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JUNIUS E. “Duke” HARDER

Junius E. “Duke” Harder, 87, of Murphy died Monday (March 27, 2006) in a Murphy medical center. A native of New Orleans, LA, Duke had lived in Brandon, FL before moving to Murphy in 1989. He was the son of the late Emile Otto and Clara Isabelle L’Hoste Harder. He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the US Army. He was a self-employed contract builder, operating Harder Builders until his retirement in 1985. Duke was a member of the Murphy First Baptist Church.

Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Shirley Smith Harder; two daughters, Susan Vonceil Harder Sertain of Asheville, NC and Nora Claire Harder of Brooksville, FL; a sister, Yvonne Harder Smith of Slidell, LA; two granddaughters, Charlotte Sertain Farley of Murphy and Lauren Suzanne Sertain of Asheville; two great grandchildren, Anthony Joel Farley and Samantha Claire Farley both of Murphy; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial services at 4:00 PM Friday (March 31) in the Murphy First Baptist Church with Dr. Woodrow Busch and Rev. Robert Heard officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Junius E. “Duke” Harder to the Alzheimer’s Association, Western Carolina Chapter, Mountain Region Office, 31 College Place, Suite D320, Asheville, NC 28801-2644 or the Murphy First Baptist Church, PO Box 7, Murphy, NC 28906.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.

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