NEASE, Harriet E. (Criswell)

Harriet Eleanor Criswell Nease (December 22, 1916-August 26, 2008) was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Charles and Harriet Criswell. She moved to Chickasha, Oklahoma, in 1923, and then to Norman in 2001, where she lived at Rivermont Retirement Community. Her parents, her husband--Dale--and her three siblings--Rhodes, Gilbert, and Mary--preceded her in death.Harriet is survived by her son, Charles, and his wife, Marylin, of Dallas; and her daughter, Ellen, and her husband, Jack Kanak, of Norman; by four grandchildren: Steve Cobb and his wife, Susan, of Denver; Rick Cobb and his wife, Inger, of Norman; Kathy Kanak and her husband, Jerry Straka, of Norman; and Alex Kanak of St. Louis; and by six great-grandchildren: Jason, Jonathan, and Joshua Cobb of Denver; and Jordan, Stockton, and Duncan Cobb of Norman. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Mary Elizabeth Criswell, of Stillwater and by seven nieces and one nephew. Harriet graduated from Oklahoma College for Women with a degree in music education. During WWII while her husband served in the Navy, she worked in the quartermaster's office at Chickasha's Borden General Hospital. For several years she co-owned and reported for the Chickasha Star and later worked more than 40 years as a secretary/bookkeeper for Dusters and Sprayers Supply near Chickasha. She was a member of Chickasha's First Christian Church, where she taught a Sunday School class for young children, served with the Christian Women's Fellowship, provided transportation to church for members needing it, and was a deacon and member of the church board. In addition, she enjoyed being a Cub Scout den mother, serving Thanksgiving dinners at the Knights of Columbus Hall, participating in the Fortnighters Bridge Club, and volunteering at Grady Memorial Hospital. Memorial services will be at the First Christian Church in Chickasha, Tuesday, September 2, at 11 a.m. following a private family burial in Chickasha's Rose Hill Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to the First Christian Church in Chickasha, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, or a charity of your choice. Submitted by family.