Mary Elizabeth Harlan

December 30, 1936 — August 28, 2018

Mary Harlan, 81, of Unionville, MO, passed away at the Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, MO, on Tuesday, August 28, 2018, after battling cancer.

Mary Elizabeth (Hill) Harlan was born in Putnam County, MO, on December 30, 1936, the daughter of Blaine and Emogene (Summers) Hill, who preceded her in death. She graduated from Unionville High School in 1954. Mary was united in marriage in West Des Moines, IA, to Donald Harlan on May 27, 1956, and he preceded her in death on August 6, 2006.

Mary worked at Thompson Produce as a bookkeeper and also worked in the office of Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. She then worked in Fort Leonard Wood, MO, in housekeeping for the soldiers. Mary and Donald owned and operated Don’s Sinclair Station in Unionville and later the Lemons General Store. Mary also owned and operated the Coffee Cup Café for a year and later worked at the Town and Country Café in Unionville. She also enjoyed traveling with Don on construction. Mary returned to Unionville and worked 16 ½ years at Bob’s Food Mart and retired from that job. Mary will be remembered as a person who liked being around people, especially if she could tease them and be a little ornery. Her family will especially remember her home-cooked meals and sweets. Mary liked to can produce from her garden and raise flowers. But her family was most important to Mary.

Mary is survived by her five children: Dennis Harlan; Kevin (Rhonda) Harlan; Steve (Linda) Harlan and Jeff (Kim) Harlan, and Donna (Rick) Schoonover all of all of Unionville, MO. Her twelve grandchildren are Jeremy (Allison) Harlan, Michael (Julie) Harlan, Jonathan (Corey) Harlan, Matthew (Cassie) Harlan, Mason (Sara) Harlan, Preston Harlan, Kera (Dustin) Lewis, Elizabeth (Jake) Bailey, Nikki (Jason) Hill, Richie Sheehan, Owen Harlan, and Evan Harlan. Her 15 great grandchildren are Avigail & Alivia Harlan, Sullivan, Sawyer, & Sadie Harlan, Tess & Tanner Harlan, Ryder & Braelyn Harlan, Delaney, Jackson, Amelia, & Sarah Lewis, Everett Bailey & Caden Hill. Mary is also survived by a brother, Jimmie (Rita) Hill or Muscatine, IA; and two sisters, Carol Wood of Pensacola, FL, and Sandie (David) Ross of Saginaw, TX; a sister-in-law, Beverly Perkins; a host of nieces and nephews; and her cat, Crybaby.

In addition to her parents and husband, Mary was also preceded in death by a step-son, Randall Harlan, and a sister, Linda Soukup.

Funeral services for Mary Harlan will be at Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO, at 2:30 pm on Saturday, September 1, 2018, with visitation beginning at 1:00 pm on the same day as the service. Interment will be at the Unionville Cemetery.

Memorials for Mary are suggested to Walter Johnson Palliative Care (Massage section) at Boone Hospital Center or the George Rea Cancer Center in Kirksville, MO, and may be entrusted with Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Elizabeth Harlan, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Starts at 1:00 pm (Central time)

Playle & Collins Family Funeral Home

709 South 27th Street, Unionville, MO 63565

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Funeral Service