Noel Skomars Harden

Noel Skomars Harden, age 78, of Rutherfordton, passed away Friday, November 21, 2025 at Willow Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Noel was born May 19, 1947 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to the late David Ross Skomars and Jeanette Ann Milbrandt Skomars. She spent most of her years living out west, especially in California. Noel lived a full life of adventure and excitement. She and her husband came to North Carolina to experience the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and to begin their retirement years together. Noel loved to dance and was a gifted artist. One interesting note is that in her earlier years, she worked at Robert Redford’s Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah. It was there that she became a lifelong friend to Mr. Redford. She was an avid cat lover and enjoyed taking care of her cats, Willow and Little Boy.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Vincent Harden.

She is survived by her good friends and caretakers, Barry and Kim Hardin of Rutherfordton.

Noel’s ashes will be placed in a niche at Rutherford County Memorial Cemetery.