Harriet Larkin Obituary

Harriet Mattingly Larkin

Harriet was born March 22, 1926, in Odessa, Missouri, daughter of Harry Mattingly and Virginia Belles Mattingly. She passed away peacefully February 25, 2015, in Winter Garden, Florida, at the age of 88.

She went to school 11 years in Odessa, 2 years at Christian College in Columbia, Missouri, and 2 years at Missouri University, graduating with a B.S. in Business Administration. There she became a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. Coming of age during World War II resulted in starting at Christian College without graduating from high school, as the teachers who would have taught her senior year classes had all volunteered for military service and service in the WACs and WAVEs.

She worked at the Mattingly Bros. Store, founded by her father and uncles in Odessa and at the Bank of Odessa.

She married Russell J. Larkin on February 7, 1954. They honeymooned in New Orleans and Havana, Cuba. Russ pre-deceased her in November 2013. She leaves three children: Carolyn and husband Jim Chancellor of Clermont, Florida, Lisa and husband Greg Keel of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Lance Larkin of Denver, Colorado. She leaves five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Two sisters preceded her in death, and she leaves one sister, Mary Ann Taylor, and her husband Jack Taylor, of Columbia, Missouri. Three nieces and two nephews remain.

Harriet and Russ moved to Lawrence in 1966, where she was a member of First Christian Church, Chapter GQ of the PEO Sisterhood, Tennola study club, several bridge clubs and Alvamar Country Club. At Alvamar she served on the Executive Committee and held several offices in the Women's Golf group. She also served a number of years on the Corporation Board of Gamma Phi Beta Sigma Chapter. She enjoyed watching KU basketball with a bowl of popcorn, playing golf, bridge, and traveling.

Memorials suggested to First Christian Church, Lawrence.

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