Elaine Florence Harkness' Obituary
Mrs. Elaine Florence (Allen) Harkness, age 99, joined her husband of 42 years in heaven on January 2, 2024. She passed away at Robbinswood Assisted Living Facility in Grand Haven, Michigan. Elaine was born on October 6, 1924 in Norwegian-American Hospital in Chicago, Illinois to parents Leslie Earl and Ethel Louise (Hanson) Allen. Elaine’s parents divorced early in life during the Great Depression. Elaine and her younger sister Eleanor Louise (Allen) Blood spent a month in the Lydia Home Orphanage in Chicago at one point due to financial conditions. What Elaine remembered the most of that time was how she and her sister used to travel around the Chicagoland area by train alone to visit the Lincoln Zoo and other attractions when her mother was working. Later when she was growing up, Elaine lived on a farm near Morley, Michigan with her mother and sisters Eleanor and Winnie B. (Clark) Beeman. Elaine recalled her first real paying job was in Morley at the ammo factory during early WWII (about 1941). She was fired from the job when they found out she was only 17 years old. Elaine also lived for a time with her grandparents Edward Ebenhart and Nellie Matilda (Nelson) Hanson in Adrian Michigan. Elaine graduated from Adrian High School in 1942.
On her 18th birthday Elaine packed up her belongings in a suitcase and took the bus to Muskegon. (This was during WWII and she had learned from her stepfather Lester D. Clark that there were good paying jobs to be had in Muskegon). She got off the bus in Muskegon with no job or residence in sight and was hired that day to work at Continental Motors factory in downtown Muskegon and was referred to a Greek family with a room to rent.
During her employment at the Continental plant, Elaine became interested in flying airplanes and completed training to obtain her private pilot’s license at Muskegon County Airport, a feat that was rare for women in the early 1940’s. Also during her Continental plant employment, she became friends with Beverley J. (Harkness) Garter and her mother Hazel M. (Golwitzer) Harkness who both worked there. Later Elaine met the son/brother Richard James Harkness who was in the US Army at the time and eventually after WWII they were married on April 25, 1947 in Muskegon, Michigan. Elaine always wanted a large family, so she stopped working at Continental and proceeded to start a family, giving birth to seven children in nine years: Sharon, Peggy, John, James, Janet, Joseph and Julie.
Her home on Ada Avenue was open to her growing family and their friends. She kept homemade pizza and pies in the freezer for late night snacking. Her favorite color was purple. She enjoyed playing the lottery and betting on Nascar. Going out to eat was something she looked forward to and watching Lawrence Welk re-runs made her smile. She especially liked Myron Floren on the accordion. Elaine was a night owl who loved watching movies from her extensive VHS collection. She enjoyed painting and ceramics and gifted items to her children and their families. She once painted a mural on the living room wall of a branch of a tree and it was admired for many years.by all who saw it. Our homes still have Nativity sets, Christmas trees, banks, and dolls she lovingly crafted. Elaine was an exceptional listener and a friend of all. The annual Harkness family reunion revolved around her birthday and year after year we gathered to celebrate her amazing life and the impact she had on generations. Her most recent birthday was no exception. Four generations of the family tree were represented. We will miss her greatly and her traits of caring, compassion, hard work and the importance of family will remain her legacy.
In addition to raising the children, Elaine also worked outside the home at various locations: Meri-lan Dairy as a waitress, El Royal Restaurant as the head cook on days, and Muskegon Regional Mental Facility as an attendant. After her husband Richard died on June 27, 1989, Elaine lived alone for about 10 years at the family home at 1037 Ada Avenue, Muskegon. She eventually moved to Pine Grove Manor, where she lived for about 20 years. It was during this time that she volunteered to help other residents with transportation to and from area stores and church, along with helping to serve noon lunch in the Manor facility cafeteria. She especially enjoyed being a greeter at First Baptist Church Sunday morning services for many years. Elaine Harkness was awarded the Outstanding Senior Award for 2001 by the Muskegon Community College Senior Advisory Board (Muskegon Chronicle dated August 17, 2001). After a fall which resulted in a broken neck. Elaine recovered and eventually moved into the Robbinswood Assisted Living Facility at Grand Haven.
Elaine is predeceased by her parents Leslie and Ethel (Hanson) Allen, husband Richard J. Harkness, sister and brother-in-law Eleanor (Chuck) L. Blood, brother–in-law Enoch (Winnie) Beeman, daughter Sharon (William) L. Phillips, daughter and son-in-law Peggy A. and (J. Terry) Shepard, son John W. Harkness, and grandson Jonathan Phillips. She is survived by her sister Winnie B. (Enoch) Beeman of Spring Arbor, MI, son James R. Harkness of Muskegon, daughter Janet L. (Robert) Sobish of Fruitport, son Joseph J. (Chris) Harkness of Negaunee, MI, daughter Julie M. (Pat) Sorenson of Fruitport Township and son-in-law William J. Phillips of Sparta, MI. Elaine also leaves behind 17 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
Services will be held Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 11:00 am at the First Baptist Church, 1070 S. Quarterline Road, Muskegon with the Rev. Andy Smith officiating. Visitation will be held starting one hour prior to the service and light refreshments will be provided after the services at the church. Burial will be in Sunrise Memorial Gardens in Muskegon next to her husband. Special thanks to the dedicated personnel at Robbinswood Assisted Living Facility and at Hospice of North Ottawa Community in Grand Haven Michigan for the compassionate and excellent care afforded to Elaine. Funeral planning services by Sytsema Funeral Home at 737 Apple Avenue. Suggested Memorial: Muskegon Rescue Mission.
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