A memorial service for Jean Elizabeth Patrick Harbison, 82, will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home in Lawton with Stephanie Jenkins, Rector, officiating. A reception will follow in the parish hall. After a long decline with Alzheimer's disease, Jean died peacefully at her home on December 22, 2024 under the care of her children and husband.

Jean was born on October 11, 1942 in Shreveport, Louisiana to Evelyn Morgan ("E.M."), a business owner, and Myrtle (Gandy) Patrick, a schoolteacher. She was raised with one younger brother, Douglas M. Patrick, in Many, Louisiana where she enjoyed a childhood of daydreaming on horseback on the family farm, herding Angus cattle, showing steers for 4-H, and working in her father's business. Her parents taught her to respect people from all walks of life, to work hard, and to appreciate their many blessings.

Jean followed in her father's footsteps, attending Louisiana State University, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority and earned her B.A. in Family & Community Living in 1964 followed by graduate work in education at Tulane University. She would remain a lifelong Tigers fan.

After college, she worked as a teacher in New Orleans and as a social worker in Many, Louisiana. She moved to Dallas in 1970 where she met Robert P. Hendrick through mutual friends. She married Mr. Hendrick, and they moved to Lawton in 1971; she has been a resident ever since. Jean and Bob Hendrick raised two children in Lawton: Robert A. Hendrick and Elizabeth S. Hendrick. She excelled as a single working mother after her divorce from Mr. Hendrick; she considered this her most significant personal achievement. Her child-raising approach was characterized by positive reinforcement. She fostered independence and a love of learning in her children who fondly remember reading aloud with her at the end of the day. She channeled her creativity and Southern taste to remodel and decorate a home full of antiques and art and hosted many memorable parties there. Jean made caring friends through the Junior League of Lawton and served as its President in 1982. In response to the loss of her newborn son who was born prematurely in 1973, Jean lobbied the League to fund the purchase of an isolette for Comanche County Memorial Hospital so that other infants born prematurely would face better odds of survival.

Jean held active and leadership roles in numerous organizations, including the State Arts Council, Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra, committees of the Lawton Chamber of Commerce, Arts for All, and the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits. Jean served as President of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy and as Secretary of the Oklahoma Heritage Association. She cited membership in Leadership Oklahoma Class IV as one of her most enjoyable volunteer efforts. Her recognitions include selection as one of "50 Making a Difference" by Oklahoma City's The Journal Record and Cameron University's Distinguished Service Award.

When circumstances demanded that Jean seek employment, her history of volunteerism and her interest in the management side of nonprofits paved the way for her career. She was invited to apply for the position of Executive Director of the United Way of Southwest Oklahoma, a role in which she served from 1983 until her retirement on Dec. 31, 1999. Due to her leadership and recruitment of excellent volunteers, the organization experienced 17 years of successive increases in dollars raised for local nonprofit human service organizations. She initiated plans for Leadership Giving at the local United Way, the Great Media Raft Race, and Day of Caring. Through the United Way, Jean assisted the community in focusing on homeless issues and on the need for opportunities for low-income children and youth to participate in Boy/Girl Scouts, Camp Fire, YMCA, and Armed Services YMCA. During Jean's tenure, she taught courses in campaign and administration for the United Way of America after benefitting herself from training opportunities through that national organization. She instigated Comanche County's first comprehensive community-wide needs assessment through the local United Way. This assessment resulted in the informed targeting of donor money to documented needs. It also revealed a need for public transportation for the citizens of Lawton and enabled the United Way to help the City of Lawton develop its public transportation system (LATS). In 1992, Jean was one of only three community United Way professionals named to serve with volunteers from across the nation on a committee appointed to restore the effectiveness of United Way of America. The committee restructured policies and procedures which led to the national organization's selection by Financial World as its Charity of Choice based on its ethics and accountability.

During Jean's tenure at the United Way, the purchase of the building housing its offices was made possible through a small group of volunteers and donors and a grant from the McMahon Foundation.

Jean found her match in Williams Cos. executive Robert G. Harbison whom she met when they were both serving on a statewide task force dealing with children's issues. They bonded over their shared concern for children, mutual acquaintances, and a love of running, cementing a friendship which eventually led to their marriage on November 22, 1997 in Tulsa. Jean and Bob enjoyed a marriage of mutual interests, vacations aboard a houseboat on Lake Powell, and memorable trips domestically and abroad. Together with Bob, she served as co-chair of major gifts for the United Way of Southwest Oklahoma. After Jean's retirement from the United Way, much of her energy went towards supporting Bob's efforts in leading the early childhood movement in Oklahoma.

Jean set a lasting example of positivity, tenacity, and thoroughness in helping people, doing everything with incredible energy and a sense of fairness. Her faith was a great comfort to her and her views were open-minded and progressive. She was a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church for many years.

Jean is survived by her husband, Bob Harbison, of the home; her two children, Robert A. Hendrick of Norman, and Elizabeth S. (Lee) Hendrick of Richmond, Virginia; her brother Doug (DeAnne) of Many, Louisiana and their sons Jason and Tim Fluitt and their five grandchildren; and Bob's stepdaughter Kristi Morris and her daughters Melissa, Catherine, and Mariah, as well as Kristi's five grandchildren, all of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jean was preceded in death by her father, her mother, and a newborn son (James C. Hendrick).

Jean's family would like to thank CompleteOK hospice for providing palliative care and Lori LaFontaine and friends for providing companionship to Jean.

In lieu of flowers, Jean's family asks that memorial contributions be made to the United Way of Southwest Oklahoma where donations can be designated to an endowment fund established in her honor when she retired. Donations can also be made to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church of Lawton or to the charity of the donor's choice.