Marjorie Harman's Obituary
Marjorie Kathleene Garrison Yates Harman, 93 years old, went to be with the Lord on December 9, 2020. Marjorie was comforted and cared for by her family in her final days. Marjorie was the oldest daughter of William Dee and Susan Marie McConnell Garrison, of Springfield, MO and was born on February 18, 1927.
Marjorie attended Campbell Elementary, Jarrett Jr. High and Greenwood High school in Springfield, MO, where she graduated early and started nursing school in 1944. She graduated from St. Johns School of Nursing and finished her training at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, MO. She often recalled how she boarded the train in Springfield and traveled to Union Station in St. Louis for her last year of nursing school at Barnes Hospital. During this time in history, nursing students were not allowed to be married when attending nursing school.
She was introduced to her husband in 1946, William (Bill) Albert Yates, by a cousin who was in the Navy with Bill. After his high school graduation in 1946, Bill and his high school friends immediately joined the United States Navy. He served in the Philippines, where he was awarded the Philippine Liberation, Victory and Asiatic Pacific medals for his service.
Marjorie was married to William (Bill) Albert Yates, of Terrance Alabama, on January 3, 1948 at the Grace Methodist Church in Springfield, MO.
Early in the marriage, she was a private duty nurse, then as her family grew, she became a stay at home mother. After several moves to West Plains, MO, Galveston, TX and Mobile, AL, Bill and Marjorie settled in Jackson, MS to raise their children. Bill started his own business, Standard Plumbing Company, located on Hwy 80. Marjorie kept the books for the company until Bill’s untimely death at 40 years old on May 10, 1966. While in Jackson, the family attended Leavell Woods United Methodist Church and she was involved in every aspect of the church: Sunday School teacher, Methodist youth group sponsor, and a member of the United Methodist Women’s Circle. She was an excellent cook, housekeeper and seamstress. She enjoyed gardening, arts and crafts. Most of all she enjoyed being with her kids and later in life, all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
After her husband’s death, she returned to nursing and worked as Head Nurse at Hinds General Hospital, then moved to the University of Mississippi Medical Center as a Nursing Instructor, and finally to St. Dominic’s Hospital where she was Director of Nursing Education in Jackson, MS. She retired from St. Dominic’s Hospital at age 62 and remained in Jackson for several years. When her mother became ill, she moved back to Springfield, MO to take care of her until her death at 85, on August, 11, 1989. After her mom’s death, Marjorie sold her home in Jackson, moved back to Springfield and met a high school sweetheart, William (Bill) Ray Harman, at a class reunion. They were married at 70 years old, on May 24, 1997 and resided in Nixa and later in Springfield, MO. Bill was a lifelong resident of Springfield, a veteran of the Army and was employed by the Federal Prison hospital in Springfield.
Marjorie and Bill had a great marriage and were able to travel the world: Australia, Canada, Hawaii, New Zealand, Ireland, Europe and numerous locations in the U.S. When Bill’s health began to falter, she took care of him until his death, on May 17, 2013. While in Springfield, they were active members of the Campbell United Methodist Church.
In August of 2015, after her health began to decline, she moved to Boonville, MO where she could be closer to her family.
Marjorie is survived by her four children, William Richard Yates (Felicita) of Tampa, Florida, Paul Steven Yates (Doug), of Columbia, MO, Nancy Yates Parker (William) of Boonville, MO and Sharon Yates Coleman (Phillip) of Senatobia, Mississippi and one sister, Susan Marie Garrison Letterman (Bob) of Willard, MO.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Marie Garrison, her husbands, Bill Yates and Bill Harman, siblings, Dorothy Alice Garrison Busiek, Joseph Dee
Garrison and William Ervin Garrison. She leaves behind 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren. Special thanks to Alice Parker, her niece, for her faithful dedication and love to Marjorie and her family.
Visitation will be Tuesday, December 15, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. with Funeral Services at 11;00 A.M. AT walnut Lawn Funeral Home Ltd., DeGraffenreid Wood Crematory.
Burial will follow at the Green lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
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