James Harder

James Byars Harder, 82, left this world on April 24, 2026 at his home, in peace and surrounded by family.

Harder was born to James Robert Lee Harder and Barbara Harder née Byars on December 29, 1943 in Detroit, Michigan. Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, he played football and basketball for Oakhaven High School. He later played football at Memphis State University, majoring in business, he played rhythm guitar for the rock band The Fabulous Continentals, and he worked for Royal Studios, a recording studio in Memphis.

Harder began working for National Car Rental in 1963. Marrying Carol Mixon in 1973, they settled in Humble, Texas where their son Lane was born in 1976. In 1977, he acquired Otho Motor Company, changing the name to Harder-Jones Chevrolet-Oldsmobile, and moved his family to Mineola where his daughter Lana was born in 1978.

With Joe Jones of Gladewater, they founded Lake Country Land Company in which Harder was the managing partner and developer of the Spring Lake subdivision. He immediately joined numerous boards and organizations, including the Rotary Club (Director), Mineola Chamber of Commerce (President), Wood County Airport Board (member), MISD School Board (President), Wood County Child Welfare Board (member), Wood County Foster Home Group, Inc. (member), Administrative Board of First United Methodist Church (President), Mineola Civic Center Board (President), Chevrolet Dealer Council (Director), East Texas Chevy Dealers (President), Boy Scouts of America (Area Advisor), and Ricochet Record Corporation (President). In 1984, the Mineola Chamber of Commerce named him Man of the Year.

In 1994, he sold Harder-Jones, and founded Texas Auto Marketing Corporation for auto sales, dealer financial services, salvage liquidation, and consulting. He was particularly proud to serve on the Board of Directors of Broadstreet Bank for 43 years, the longest term of any director in the bank's history.

In retirement, he and Carol enjoyed traveling (particularly to the Rocky Mountains), spending time with their grown children, and continuing his lifelong pastime of horse trading. In the mid-1990's, he self-published his book on buying a new car entitled, I'm Not a Buyer at That Price. In 2015, he welcomed his only grandchild, Sullivan Harder.

Called "a cornerstone of his community," Harder never stopped offering financial counseling to people. He was a master storyteller with a keen sense of humor. A lover of music, fishing, and boating, he was a jack-of-all-trades who could repair anything. He was a model husband, father, and man of faith, and he will be missed tremendously by everyone who knew him.

Left behind to cherish his memory are his wife Carol, son Lane and wife Fawn, daughter Lana and husband Craig, granddaughter Sullivan, and numerous other family members. He is preceded in death by his parents James and Barbara, and his brother Wayne.

Visitation and a Celebration of Life service will be on May 16 at 10:00 am and 11:00 am, respectively, both in the sanctuary of First Methodist Church of Mineola. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Methodist Church of Mineola.