Harlen Oral Elliott

Harlen Oral Elliott died at home, age 88, in Tonganoxie, Kansas on Friday, May 20, 2022. He was born June 21, 1933 in Purvis, Mississippi to Omer Lee Elliott and Vida Mae (Fowler) Elliott. Harlen was blessed during his life by two marriages, the first in 1953 to his high school sweetheart, Theresa Morrow. They were married for 52 years, until Theresa's death. In 2010, he married Gloria Yvonne Fendorf, a treasured family friend.

Harlen grew up in Purvis Mississippi on a family farm and attended Progress Elementary School in Purvis Mississippi. He graduated from Purvis Consolidated High School in 1951 and received a BS in Dairy Engineering from Mississippi State University in 1955. Harlen took pride in and was shaped by his early experiences as part of a close-knit rural community and his by family's rural and Scottish heritage. Harlen especially valued his education, often telling stories about how farm families provided produce and cooked for the school lunchroom and how parents modified truck chassis into busses to ensure that rural students could reach the school before the education system was consolidated.

During high school, Harlen and his close friend, and later brother-in-law, Don Morrow shared a love of classic cars. They combed the rural roads for old cars and parts to complete rebuild projects. During college, Harlen purchased a 1926 Jewett New Day Sedan which he kept in storage until his retirement. He affectionately called the car "Miss Jewett" and referred to her as a member of the family. One of his fondest achievements was personally restoring the Jewett and showing her to a National Award with the Antique Automobile Club of America in 2003.

College ROTC led to a US Army commission. Harlen originally planned to stay in Mississippi and work in the rapidly modernizing dairy processing industry. However, after living in various parts of the US and Europe to fulfill mandatory military service, Harlen and Theresa decided that military family life suited them well. Harlen served 20 years in field artillery, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel from his last duty post at the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth in 1975. Harlen's military career included assignments in England, Germany, South Korea, Vietnam, and several stateside assignments. Like many veterans, Harlen was reticent about his military experiences until later life. But, in retirement, as a lover of a good story who was also proud of Army's traditions and contributions, he shared recollections of military life and technology that spanned post World War II, the Cold War, Vietnam, and the modern high-tech Army.

While stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Harlen and Theresa entered the local business community, first buying American Ice Company and American Auto Electric, and later, Midwest Marine and Midwest Distributing, which they expanded into a regional boat and wholesale trailer sales dealership. Indulging their daughters' interests, Harlen and Theresa bred horses and supported the Boling Grange 4H Club during the 1970s.

In retirement, Harlen lived in Auburn KS with Theresa and later moved to Tonganoxie after his remarriage. Yvonne and Harlen established a home in Tonganoxie where Harlen became an active member of VFW Post 9271. He was an enthusiastic Post Home supporter and took pleasure in cooking for the VFW's Leavenworth County Food Booth, placing flags in the community on holidays, and judging the annual high school patriotic essay contest. His many friends from the VFW formed a vital support network through his last years.

Harlen was a member of the Southern Baptist Church growing up and, as an adult, he was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church. Because of his military service, he was a part of many congregations over the years but had special connections to St. Mark UMC in Greenville SC, Lansing UMC in Lansing KS, and Lowman UMC in Topeka KS.

Harlen was preceded in death by his parents, Omer and Vida Mae; by his wife, Theresa; by his second wife, Yvonne; and by his brother Graydon Edward Elliott. He is survived by his three children, Denise Elliott Miller (New Waverly TX), Erin Elliott Kirkland and her husband, Vaughn (Topeka KS), and son Thornton Lee Elliott and wife, Cyndi (RV Nomads). He is also survived by his grandchildren, Daniel Miller (Montgomery TX), Haleigh Heldenbrand (Chillicothe MO), Addison Kirkland (Chicago IL), Joshua Elliott (Leavenworth KS), Chelsea Sabata (Sutton NE), Brittany Elliott (Topeka KS), David Miller (Montgomery TX), Kyle Werner, and Blake Werner. He is also survived by numerous greatgrandchildren.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Saturday, May 28, 10am to noon at VFW Post 9271, 900 East 1st St., Tonganoxie KS 66086.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to VFW Post 9271, 910 East 1st Street, Tonganoxie KS 66086 or to Lowman United Methodist Church, 4101 SW 15th St, Topeka, KS 66604.