Betty Joyclyn Harkins

Betty Joyclyn Harkins was gathered into the arms of her Savior on Monday, August 6, 2018. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, August 12, 2018 at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers, 6025 82nd St. Lubbock, Texas. Family and friends will celebrate her life of 90 years on Monday, August 13, 2018, at 10 a.m. at Southcrest Baptist Church, 3801 South Loop 289, Lubbock, Texas. Internment will take place at Westlawn Memorial Cemetery, Fritch Highway on August 13 at 3:15p.m. 

Betty was born on February 21, 1928 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma to John Douglas Young and Susan Melinda Kilpatrick Young. Betty’s sister, Eleanor Carr of Amarillo, Texas was born from this union two years prior to Betty’s birth. Later their Mother married Thomas Jefferson Flood and two brothers, Richard Thomas Flood and George Robert Flood, both of Borger, Texas completed their immediate family.

Betty’s parents and siblings specialized in building and operating small family bakeries in northwest Arkansas, southwest Missouri and northeast Oklahoma area. Betty graduated from Cassville, Missouri High School in May of 1946. Later she furthered her education attending classes along with Jack at Frank Phillips College, Borger, Texas and West Texas A&M, Canyon, Texas.

She married Jack Junior Harkins from Cassville, Missouri on May 3, 1948 in Miami, Oklahoma. The newly-wed couple initially remained in the Cassville area where they stocked dairy cattle, sheep and other various farm animals on Jack’s family owned farm for several years. A neighbor later told Betty that he did not think that “city girl” would last six months on the farm but Betty was a remarkably determined woman, a trait she would exemplify throughout her life. After the birth of their first child, Joe Allyn, in 1951 they decided to travel to Seattle, Washington to seek employment in the airline industry. On their way they stopped in Borger, Texas to visit Betty’s sister, Eleanor and her husband Kenneth Carr. While there they learned that the Phillips Petroleum Company was expanding its principal refinery in Borger. Jack was hired and worked for Phillips for twelve years. During that time their daughter, Joyclyn Marie, was born in 1954. Jack and Betty built their own home on a lot they purchased in Keeler Heights, a newly developed Borger neighborhood. Betty’s Dad, Thomas Flood, a skilled carpenter, helped them build the house. They had stayed up all night the day before the new home lots were to be made available in order to be first in line to purchase their lot the following morning. Betty and Jack made their home and raised their family in this house until finally being convinced to move to Lubbock in 1980 to be nearer their children’s families and their first three grandchildren – Heath, Damon and Julie. The grandchildren would be complete with the arrival of Salem in 1981 and Celeste in 1991. Betty was hired by Texas Instruments shortly after relocating to Lubbock. She loved working in the TI plant’s consumer products division where she had a record of perfect attendance the six consecutive years she was employed with TI.

Jack retired from Southwestern Public Service in 1986 after a twenty-two year career but it was not too long before they decided to rejoin the work force together through employment with Jones Transportation and later for Kennedy Mortuary and Transport Services of West Texas. Betty made trips with Jack as they traveled to many towns and cities in twelve states while working with these two firms. Betty also served along with Jack for many years as an election volunteer for the Republican Party in Lubbock County.

Betty and Jack were both very involved in the lives of their children, their children’s spouses and their grandchildren. They strongly supported not only Joe and Joyclyn’s involvement in Scouting but also their grandchildren’s. Music and music education was important to them as they were involved with the music programs of their children and grandchildren.

Traveling in their RV for skiing and fishing trips with the entire family brought them great pleasure. They were members of Billy Sims’ RV Club for many years. She enjoyed cooking and entertaining in her home. Crocheting, ceramics and jewelry making were among her many talents. Betty was also an excellent seamstress. Betty was a Mother Advisor for the Borger chapter of Rainbow Girls as well as being a member of the Borger chapter of the Order of Eastern Stars for more than fifty years. She taught Sunday School for pre-school age children at First Baptist Church, Borger, Texas. Betty loved Church visitation on Wednesday nights where she made many life-long friends. She and Jack were members of Southcrest Baptist Church, Lubbock, Texas. Betty was a devoted Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Friend and Encourager. Her principal concern for others was to have a knowledge and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Generous and sacrificial with her time and gifts in order to help and see others fulfill their potential was important to her. However, her greatest joy was spending time with her family. As one who always demonstrated a servant’s heart we thank her for a life well lived.

The Doctors, Nurses and staff of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas were excellent in the services they provided when we started on this journey three years ago. We are very thankful for the empathy, professionalism and kindness of Dr Chou, Dr Cabos, Dr Figueroa of Lubbock for guiding us through Betty’s successful radiation sessions, initial and follow-through cancer treatments. Her family physician, Dr Robert Ordonez, stood by her and us during many office visits and hospital admissions with his kindness, wisdom and personal touch. We sincerely want to thank the owner, managers and staff of Fountain Hills Assisted Living in Lubbock. Their dedication to Betty’s care and comfort was outstanding.

We also wish to acknowledge the great service provided by Accolade Hospice of Lubbock, especially our sweet friend and Aide Kathy Bigham, Dr Shanklin, RN Estella Gomez, RN Kelsi White, RN Cari Hughes as well as many other support staff from their Lubbock office. Katherine McLamore, Betty Young’s Therapy Dog program and other volunteers from Kindred Hospice brought much joy to Betty. Cathy Davis of Cathy’s Clippers and Sandy Burns at Fountain Hills were so gracious to continue to work with us in keeping Betty looking beautiful.

Survivors include her children, Dr. Joe Harkins and wife, Cathy; Joyclyn O’Steen and husband, Doil; siblings, Eleanor Carr; Richard Flood and wife, Opaline; grandchildren: Heath Harkins and wife, Tiffany; Damon O’Steen and wife, Anna; Julie Cunningham and husband, Blair; Salem O’Steen and wife, Joy; Celeste Rickman and husband, Justin; great-grandchildren: Sydnie, Carter, Madilyn, and Keegan Salle; Elle, Mabry, and Declan O’Steen. She was preceded in death by her mother, Susan Melinda Flood; Step-father Thomas Jefferson Flood; father, John Douglas Young; brother, George Robert Flood; and husband, Jack Junior Harkins with whom Betty was married for 65 years until Jack’s passing in 2013. Betty’s Grandsons, Heath Harkins, Damon and Salem O’Steen, Blair Cunningham and Justin Rickman will serve as pallbearers.

A tribute of Mrs. Harkin’s life may be found at www.memorialdesigners.net, where you may leave memories and expressions of sympathy for her family. 

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