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Submitted: 2/5/21 • Approved: 2/6/21 • Last Updated: 2/9/21 • R386736-G0-S3
US Army
World War II
January 20, 1925 - May 1, 2013
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.
Photo/information, courtesy of Edith Guynes Stanley
*Obituary
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
Contributed on 2/5/21 by neldapat
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Record #: 386736