Mildred Evelyn Harkness

Mrs. Harkness died Saturday, Nov. 27, 2004, at Brandon Woods Retirement Community.

She was born March 23, 1918, in Amy, the daughter of Thomas Alexander and Ocea Lee Walters Campbell.

Mrs. Harkness grew up in Scott County and after high school she completed two years of college at Fort Hays State University. She received a teaching certificate and taught in county schools. She also became a practical nurse.

Mrs. Harkness lived in Leoti from 1938 to 1972 and then moved to Scott County, where she lived until 1982 when she moved to Lawrence.

She retired from farming, working for a Ford dealership and from the well-drilling business in 1982. She was active with the elderly and helped build the VIP Building in Scott County.

Mrs. Harkness also was active in the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce. She was honored with the Douglas County Senior Center Award. She served in the Silver Haired Legislature where she was a senator. She received the Lady of Shivery award from the Rebekah Lodge in Lawrence. She also served as a volunteer aide for former Kansas U.S. Sen. Bob Dole and president of the Women’s Republic Party of Lawrence.

Mrs. Harkness was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary in Leoti, Rebekah Lodge in Lawrence and the First Baptist Church in Lawrence. She was an officer for AARP.

She married Leo Burton Harkness in June 1938. He died earlier. She married Raymond Harkness on Aug. 15, 1972. He died in October 2000.

Survivors include a daughter, Gail Harkness, Overland Park; a son, Delbert Wayne “D.W. Skip” Harkness, Reston, Va.; a brother, Thomas “Harvey” Yates, Dighton; a foster son, Vincent Gobuyan, of Canada; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; five foster grandchildren; and two foster great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Oncology Center at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, sent in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.

Online condolences can be sent to www.rumsey-yost.com.