Lorene Alice (Harbison) PETTY

HARBISON, PETTY, RYAN, ENLOW, WILLEMS, KOEHN, MALEY, FROHLING, FROEHLING, MATSON, STEARNS, WILSON, PRUYN, MCNUTT, MOLANDER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/3/2016 at 13:37:51

January 13, 1921 --- March 19, 2016

Lorene Alice Harbison Petty, 95, passed away on March 19, 2016, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. She was born on Jan. 13, 1921, in Belmond, Iowa, to William and Christy Ryan Harbison. She graduated from Eagle Grove (Iowa) High School in 1939. As teenagers, she and her brothers and sisters formed The Harbison Five, a dance troupe that performed in various venues in Iowa and Minnesota. Acrobatics and adagio were her specialties, and she was known as “The Human Pretzel”. During this time, they met Myron Floren, later of the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, who became a family friend. As World War II progressed, they were unable to get tires for the car, so could no longer travel to perform.

She moved to Kansas and worked at Beech Aircraft in Wichita, where she met the love of her life, Jack Petty. They were married in Garner, Iowa, on Oct. 20, 1946, and were married for over 67 years. They moved to Garden City, where Lorene was a Sunday school teacher, Girl Scout Leader, and taught acrobatics. Since 1956, they had resided in Hutchinson and been members of Trinity United Methodist Church.

Lorene worked at Dillons (14th and Main) as Head Cashier for 24 years, never missing a day of work. After retirement, she volunteered at Graber Elementary for 10 years helping children with special needs. She loved hosting and baking treats for her Monday Morning Coffee Group for over 30 years. Over the years, she and Jack enjoyed tennis, bowling, golf, travel (sometimes in Jack’s restored Model A), and walking. She was a sports enthusiast, following Kansas teams as well as Notre Dame. An excellent seamstress and cook, she prepared many memorable family dinners and celebrations.

Lorene is survived by: her daughters, Patricia Enlow (Al), Coppell, Texas, and Judith Willems (Gordon), Hutchinson; three grandchildren, Steven Enlow (Kendall), Round Rock, Texas, Angela Willems Koehn (Craig), Montezuma, and Stefanie Willems, Hutchinson; great-grandchildren, John and Sage Enlow and A. J. Koehn; sister, Helene Maley, Garner, Iowa; and brother-in-law, James Petty, Augusta. She was preceded in death by: her husband, Jack; parents; stepmother, Ida Froehling Harbison; siblings, Enola Matson, Elna Stearns, Jesse Wilson, Reuel (Bud) Pruyn, Billie McNutt, Willard (Buster) Harbison, and Clare Molander.

Her cheerful, positive attitude, huge smile, kindness to all, and wonderful stories of her childhood will be missed by all who knew her. Lorene will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, mentor, and friend.

A private family graveside service will be at Greenlawn Cemetery, Pratt, with the Reverend Jim Rhaesa officiating. Friends may sign the memorial book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday, with the family present from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Memorial contributions may be made to Youth Friends or Trinity United Methodist Church, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 North Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

Hutchinson News -- Hutchinson, Kansas
April 2, 2016