Trudy Harness

Trudy Ethel Mae Harness was born March 29, 1909 in Tomaha, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Francis Newton and Artiemissie A. Horton. Trudy moved with her family at an early age to Arkansas where she was raised until she was a teenager. She then moved to Stigler, Oklahoma where she met and married Ulysses Harness at the age of seventeen on January 15, 1927. Trudy was loved music from an early age and was extremely gifted. She could play numerous musical instruments including the piano, organ, guitar and banjo. She loved to sing and especially enjoyed bluegrass and country music. As a youth she enjoyed riding horses and hunting with her brothers.

The couple made their initial home in Stigler and together raised seven children. Ulysses brought with him a three year old son, Leamon Loy Harness, by his first marriage and the couple had four sons, Alvin, Fairl, Donnie and Ulysses and two daughters, Zetta and Betty.

Trudy was raised in the Baptist faith and was a member of the Rock Springs Freewill Baptist Church. Trudy loved her family and enjoyed spending time with her children and great grandchildren. Ulysses preceded her in death on April 12, 1988 after sixty-one years of marriage.

Trudy passed away on Sunday, February 26, 2006 at the Yale Nursing Home at the age of ninety-six years, ten months and twenty-seven days. In addition to her husband, Trudy was preceded in death by her parents; her step-son, Leamon Loy Harness; daughter, Zetta V. Whitwell; four brothers, Newton, James, Connie, and Hobert; six sisters, Alice, Rose, Allie, Annie, Nora and Ora; two grandsons, one granddaughter; and three great-grandsons.

She is survived by four sons, Alvin C. Harness of Jennings, Oklahoma, Fairl F. Harness of Marionville, Missouri, Donnie H. Harness of Jennings, Oklahoma and Ulysses D. Harness of Pea Ridge, Arkansas; one daughter, Betty R. McCarty of Sparta, Missouri; twenty-eight grandchildren, fifty-three great grandchildren, several great great grandchildren, and one great great great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Thursday, March 2, 2006 at the Chapel of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home. Burial will be at the Woodland Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.

Visit an online obituary and guestbook for Trudy Harness at www.chapman-black.com.