Jack Junior HARKINS

Jack Junior
January 20, 1925-May 1, 2013

Please see military marker

Betty Joyclyn
February 21, 1928-August 6, 2018

Order of Eastern Star
Please see closeup view

Married 5-3-1948

Photo/information, courtesy of Edith Guynes Stanley

*Obituary for Jack
A celebration of the life of Jack Junior Harkins will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 10 a.m. at Southcrest Baptist Church, 3801 South Loop 289, Lubbock, Texas with Pastor Jerry Wilson officiating. Interment will follow at Westlawn Memorial Cemetery in Fritch, Texas at 4 p.m. Arrangements are under Sanders Funeral Home, 1420 Main Street, Lubbock, Texas. The family will receive friends at Sanders Funeral Home at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 10, 2013. Jack went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 following palliative care at Covenant Hospital in Lubbock. He leaves a vibrant legacy for his family and friends. Jack is survived by his wife of 65 years, Betty of Lubbock; son, Dr. Joe Allyn Harkins and daughter-in-law Cathy Harkins of Lubbock; and daughter, Joyclyn O'Steen and son-in-law Doil O'Steen of Hanford, Calif. Grandchildren and spouses include, Heath Harkins of Lubbock; Julie Cunningham and her husband Blair of Irving, Texas; Celeste Harkins of Lubbock; Damon O'Steen and his wife Anna of Culver City, Calif.; and Salem O'Steen and his wife Joy of Lubbock. Jack's brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law include, Eleanor Carr of Amarillo, Texas Richard and Opaline Flood of Borger, Texas, and Bob Flood, also of Borger, Texas. Jack was born Jan. 20, 1925 in Miami, Okla. to William Daniel Harkins and Lorene Siegel Harkins. He had one sibling, his sister, Charlotte Jean Robbins of Aurora, Mo. Jack graduated from Butterfield High School, Butterfield, Mo. in 1943. He later furthered his education attending Frank Phillips Junior College, Amarillo College, and West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas. Jack was inducted into the US Army serving in the Pacific Theater as an infantryman in the Lady Luck 77th Division. He served in Saipan, Guam, Philippines, and Japan during WWII, returning home to his family's farm in Cassville, Mo. in 1945. He married Betty Joyclyn Young Flood from Cassville, Mo. on May 3, 1948. Following their wedding, Jack and Betty farmed and stocked dairy cattle for several years on their farm. In 1951 they decided to travel to Seattle, Wash. to seek work in the airline industry. Stopping in Borger, Texas on their way to visit Betty's sister Eleanor and her husband Kenneth Carr, they learned that Phillips Petroleum Company was hiring. Jack worked for Phillips for twelve years. In 1964 he went to work for Southwestern Public Service (Excel Energy), retiring in 1986 after relocating to Lubbock from Borger in 1980. After retiring from Excel Energy he worked an additional twelve years for Jones Transportation Service in Lubbock and later for Kennedy Mortuary and Transport Services of West Texas. He and Betty traveled to twelve states while working for these two firms. Jack also served for many years as an election judge for the Republican Party in Lubbock County. He was very active in the lives of his children and grandchildren, always encouraging them in their church, Scouting and school activities. Jack and Betty had a great time with their children and grandchildren on trips in their RV. They also enjoyed their membership in the Billy Sims RV Club of Lubbock. He and Betty were members of First Baptist Church in Borger, Texas, and Calvary Baptist Church and Southcrest Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas. Generous, concerned and sacrificial in his time and gifts, his greatest joy was helping and seeing others fulfill their potential. Jack was a very astute investor. He had a keen interest in business, the national economy and its practical impact on the lives of everyday people. Friendly, generous, compassionate and humble - always thinking of others, this is the legacy of a faithful husband, loving father and devoted grandfather. We miss his presence. He will always remain in our heart. We thank him for the Christian example of a well-lived life. In lieu of flowers it was Jack's wish that a memorial be sent to the Southcrest Baptist Church Building Fund, 3801 South Loop 289, Lubbock, TX 79423 or your favorite charity . We also wish to express our sincere gratitude to Jack's care-givers, therapists and doctors, Elizabeth Ziska, Suzanne McGaha, the staff of Accolade Homecare, Carri Bigham, Kathy Bigham, Mark Caffey, Gay Attebury, Dr. Robert Ordonez, Dr. Carl Britton, Dr. Melonie Oblender, and the Staff and Doctors of Covenant Hospital. To view memorial tributes and leave your words of encouragement to Jack's family, visit www.sandersfuneralhome.com.
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Published in The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal on May 7, 2013

*Obituary for Betty
Betty Joyclyn Harkins
02/21/1928 - 08/06/2018

Betty Joyclyn Harkins was gathered into the arms of her Savior on Monday, August 6, 2018. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, August 12, 2018 at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers, 6025 82nd St. Lubbock, Texas. Family and friends will celebrate her life of 90 years on Monday, August 13, 2018, at 10 a.m. at Southcrest Baptist Church, 3801 South Loop 289, Lubbock, Texas. Internment will take place at Westlawn Memorial Cemetery, Fritch Highway on August 13 at 3:15p.m.

Betty was born on February 21, 1928 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma to John Douglas Young and Susan Melinda Kilpatrick Young. Betty’s sister, Eleanor Carr of Amarillo, Texas was born from this union two years prior to Betty’s birth. Later their Mother married Thomas Jefferson Flood and two brothers, Richard Thomas Flood and George Robert Flood, both of Borger, Texas completed their immediate family.

Betty’s parents and siblings specialized in building and operating small family bakeries in northwest Arkansas, southwest Missouri and northeast Oklahoma area. Betty graduated from Cassville, Missouri High School in May of 1946. Later she furthered her education attending classes along with Jack at Frank Phillips College, Borger, Texas and West Texas A&M, Canyon, Texas.

She married Jack Junior Harkins from Cassville, Missouri on May 3, 1948 in Miami, Oklahoma. The newly-wed couple initially remained in the Cassville area where they stocked dairy cattle, sheep and other various farm animals on Jack’s family owned farm for several years. A neighbor later told Betty that he did not think that “city girl” would last six months on the farm but Betty was a remarkably determined woman, a trait she would exemplify throughout her life. After the birth of their first child, Joe Allyn, in 1951 they decided to travel to Seattle, Washington to seek employment in the airline industry. On their way they stopped in Borger, Texas to visit Betty’s sister, Eleanor and her husband Kenneth Carr. While there they learned that the Phillips Petroleum Company was expanding its principal refinery in Borger. Jack was hired and worked for Phillips for twelve years. During that time their daughter, Joyclyn Marie, was born in 1954. Jack and Betty built their own home on a lot they purchased in Keeler Heights, a newly developed Borger neighborhood. Betty’s Dad, Thomas Flood, a skilled carpenter, helped them build the house. They had stayed up all night the day before the new home lots were to be made available in order to be first in line to purchase their lot the following morning. Betty and Jack made their home and raised their family in this house until finally being convinced to move to Lubbock in 1980 to be nearer their children’s families and their first three grandchildren – Heath, Damon and Julie. The grandchildren would be complete with the arrival of Salem in 1981 and Celeste in 1991. Betty was hired by Texas Instruments shortly after relocating to Lubbock. She loved working in the TI plant’s consumer products division where she had a record of perfect attendance the six consecutive years she was employed with TI.

Jack retired from Southwestern Public Service in 1986 after a twenty-two year career but it was not too long before they decided to rejoin the work force together through employment with Jones Transportation and later for Kennedy Mortuary and Transport Services of West Texas. Betty made trips with Jack as they traveled to many towns and cities in twelve states while working with these two firms. Betty also served along with Jack for many years as an election volunteer for the Republican Party in Lubbock County.

Betty and Jack were both very involved in the lives of their children, their children’s spouses and their grandchildren. They strongly supported not only Joe and Joyclyn’s involvement in Scouting but also their grandchildren’s. Music and music education was important to them as they were involved with the music programs of their children and grandchildren.

Traveling in their RV for skiing and fishing trips with the entire family brought them great pleasure. They were members of Billy Sims’ RV Club for many years. She enjoyed cooking and entertaining in her home. Crocheting, ceramics and jewelry making were among her many talents. Betty was also an excellent seamstress. Betty was a Mother Advisor for the Borger chapter of Rainbow Girls as well as being a member of the Borger chapter of the Order of Eastern Stars for more than fifty years. She taught Sunday School for pre-school age children at First Baptist Church, Borger, Texas. Betty loved Church visitation on Wednesday nights where she made many life-long friends. She and Jack were members of Southcrest Baptist Church, Lubbock, Texas. Betty was a devoted Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Friend and Encourager. Her principal concern for others was to have a knowledge and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Generous and sacrificial with her time and gifts in order to help and see others fulfill their potential was important to her. However, her greatest joy was spending time with her family. As one who always demonstrated a servant’s heart we thank her for a life well lived.

The Doctors, Nurses and staff of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas were excellent in the services they provided when we started on this journey three years ago. We are very thankful for the empathy, professionalism and kindness of Dr Chou, Dr Cabos, Dr Figueroa of Lubbock for guiding us through Betty’s successful radiation sessions, initial and follow-through cancer treatments. Her family physician, Dr Robert Ordonez, stood by her and us during many office visits and hospital admissions with his kindness, wisdom and personal touch. We sincerely want to thank the owner, managers and staff of Fountain Hills Assisted Living in Lubbock. Their dedication to Betty’s care and comfort was outstanding.

We also wish to acknowledge the great service provided by Accolade Hospice of Lubbock, especially our sweet friend and Aide Kathy Bigham, Dr Shanklin, RN Estella Gomez, RN Kelsi White, RN Cari Hughes as well as many other support staff from their Lubbock office. Katherine McLamore, Betty Young’s Therapy Dog program and other volunteers from Kindred Hospice brought much joy to Betty. Cathy Davis of Cathy’s Clippers and Sandy Burns at Fountain Hills were so gracious to continue to work with us in keeping Betty looking beautiful.

Survivors include her children, Dr. Joe Harkins and wife, Cathy; Joyclyn O’Steen and husband, Doil; siblings, Eleanor Carr; Richard Flood and wife, Opaline; grandchildren: Heath Harkins and wife, Tiffany; Damon O’Steen and wife, Anna; Julie Cunningham and husband, Blair; Salem O’Steen and wife, Joy; Celeste Rickman and husband, Justin; great-grandchildren: Sydnie, Carter, Madilyn, and Keegan Salle; Elle, Mabry, and Declan O’Steen. She was preceded in death by her mother, Susan Melinda Flood; Step-father Thomas Jefferson Flood; father, John Douglas Young; brother, George Robert Flood; and husband, Jack Junior Harkins with whom Betty was married for 65 years until Jack’s passing in 2013. Betty’s Grandsons, Heath Harkins, Damon and Salem O’Steen, Blair Cunningham and Justin Rickman will serve as pallbearers.

(Published by Lake Ridge Chapel & Memorial Designers, Thursday, August 9, 2018)

Contributed on 2/5/21 by neldapat
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Record #: 386727

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