Dr. Boyd Archer Hardesty

Dr. Boyd Archer Hardesty, of Rosalia, Wash., died Jan. 22, 2015 from injuries sustained in a fall. He was 82.

Boyd was born May 15, 1932 in Cheney to parents Bonner and Mildred Hardesty. He was raised in Rosalia where he met and fell in love with his wife Willa Mae, graduating from Rosalia High School. In 1952, they married in Spokane. 

After high school, Boyd went on to Washington State University where he earned his bachelors degree in 1953. In 1956 he graduated with a masters degree going on to California Institute of Technology, graduating with his Ph.D. in biochemistry in 1961. He was a NSF Post Doctoral Fellow at Yale University from 1961-1963.

During this time, his oldest son Bruce Hardesty was born (1958), and in 1961, his second son Brian was born. In 1964, he moved his family to Texas, where his one and only daughter, Diana was born and he accepted a position at the University of Texas. 

He was a professor and research scientist for 35 years. As a research scientist, Dr. Hardesty traveled to many countries, including the Soviet Union, Poland, Germany and South Africa. He and his laboratory published more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers.

Boyd retired in 1999, holding professor emeritus status.

In his spare time, he was a seasoned hunter and fisherman, taking him to places such as New Zealand, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. He was a life member of the Safari Club International and the NRA.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, his children and their children, Derek, Patrick, Jennifer and Katherine.

Burial will be at the Rosalia IOOF Evergreen Cemetery at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. at the Rosalia United Methodist Church. Cheney Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements. Visit the online guestbook at cheneyfuneral.com.