George Milton Hardesty, known as "Coach", 91, died peacefully on Tuesday, February 1 st , 2022, in his home in Springfield, Missouri. He was born on February 3 rd , 1930, in Carl Junction, Missouri to Jesse and Georgia Hardesty.

George served honorably in the United States Marines, fighting in the Korean War before becoming drill sergeant, which later helped fund his college education. As a graduate of University of Missouri, he went on to receive his Master's Degree in Education from Texas Southern University. For the next twenty-nine years, he taught as well as coached football, track & field, and swimming at Deady Junior High School in Houston, Texas, while simultaneously working as the Physical Director and swim coach at the Cossaboom YMCA during much of that time. He also coached the AAU National Championship swim teams in 1961 and 1963 before retiring to Springfield, Missouri in 1980. There, he joined the YMCA where he made many close friends and acquaintances, especially amongst "The 5 A.M. Crew." George is survived by his wife Marian Hardesty; daughters Amy Hardesty Phlegm (Mervin), Beth DiPietro (Robert), Edith Hardesty Hill (Ralph), and Jane Hardesty; son Kirk Hardesty; one brother Terry Hardesty (Susie); nephew Brent Hardesty (Carrie), their children Keith Brenton Hardesty, Adrienne Hardesty, and Ashlynn Hardesty; three grandchildren Justin Hardesty, Mikayla and Riley Hill; and one great-granddaughter Molly Hardesty.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 9 th , 2022, at Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel, 1947 E. Seminole St, Springfield, MO 65804, with Vernon Delpesce officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and burial will take place at the Oronogo Cemetery at 1:00 p.m., located on Ivy Road in Oronogo (Webb City), Missouri.

The funeral will be livestreamed and can be viewed at the All Occasion Video Springfield Missouri Facebook page, which can be found here .