Nov. 20, 1918 – Feb. 11, 2012
Geneva “Gigi” Hadnot, 93, passed away peacefully on Feb. 11. She is now in a better place with her husband, family, and the friends who preceded her.
Mom was born in Alcoa, Tenn. on Nov. 20, 1918, to Gene and Sue Smith. Her father was a clerk in the local mining company store. Sometime around age 7 they moved west, settling in Casa Grande, Ariz. Geneva attended grade and high school there, and went on to Arizona State University in Tempe for two years. It was in Casa Grande that she met the love of her life, the dashing young Felton Hadnot, who had recently moved there from Louisiana. They were married in September of 1940 and both worked at the local agricultural extension office. They enjoyed spending time with friends and playing cards while beginning to develop a cotton farming operation. World War II came along, and Felton enlisted in the Navy in 1942, one year after Pearl Harbor. They moved around Arizona for the next four years while he fulfilled his duties as a Navy recruiter.
The year 1946 was a busy for the young couple. The war ended, dad was out of the Navy, a child was born, and they moved to Southern California to start a business, the H & L Auto Supply store. In 1950 they moved into a new house in Long Beach and developed many life-long friendships with neighbors and business associates. Mom and dad loved to travel, and enjoyed many trips in their trailer across the United States, and even up to Alaska. They bought a small fishing boat, and made many visits to the Colorado River area, often passing through Boulder City. There are many fond memories of catching bass during the day and playing pinochle or double solitaire at night in the trailer.
Geneva and Felton retired in 1975 and bought a house in Boulder City. By then they were known as Gigi and Babo, names given them by their oldest grandson. They continued to enjoy traveling, fishing on Lake Mead, and of course the annual summer trip to Montana to visit Doug and his family. I think Gigi even rode a horse once. Babo passed away in 2004, and Gigi continued to live in Boulder City and enjoy the company of her many friends and neighbors. She had a strong love for her grandchildren, and enjoyed spending time with them — everybody always liked “going to Gigi’s house.”
Gigi is survived by her son Douglas and his wife Sue of Lolo, Mont,; grandson, Jason, his wife Sherry, and her great-granddaughter, McKenna, of Concord, Calif.; grandson Jim and his partner Lindsay Sundberg of Las Vegas; and grandson Dustin and his wife Kellie of Lolo, Mont.
Mom lived a full and happy life. She was kind and gentle, and always took good care of her family and friends. She is missed.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Feb. 17, at 10:40 a.m. at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery. The family invites you to sign the online memorial guestbook at >www.bouldercityfamilymortuary.com
God saw you getting tired,
When a cure was not to be
So He wrapped his arms around you,
And whispered, “come to me.”
You didn’t deserve what you went through,
So He gave you rest.
God’s garden must be beautiful,
He only takes the best
And when I saw you sleeping,
So peaceful and free from pain
I could not wish you back
To suffer that again.
– Author Unknown
