Cover photo for Lela Harrington's Obituary
Lela Harrington Profile Photo
Lela

Lela Harrington

d. August 21, 2019

Lela Alice Berends Harrington was born February 12, 1936, to Ephraim Joakim Berends and Leona Despain Berends, in Beaver County, Oklahoma, and graduated from this life to her heavenly home on August 21, 2019, in Buffalo, Oklahoma. Lela graduated from Englewood High School, Englewood, Kansas, in 1953 as valedictorian of her class.  She went to a business school in Wichita, Kansas, for a six-month course.  She worked for a year at Dodge City, Kansas, in the co-op office.  She also did babysitting for the Charlie Theis family.  Lela married Ray Harrington on June 1, 1957 and moved with her husband to a ranch Northwest of Englewood, Kansas.  Cathy Diane was born June 12, 1959.  Lela said she never had to wonder where Cathy was because she could always hear her singing.  Her heart was broken when Bruce Kent was born September 6, 1961, with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.  Bruce lived only fifteen months.  Carla Jolene was born August 14, 1964, in Ashland, Kansas, on her Uncle Clarence’s fifty-second birthday.  When it came time for Cathy to start school, the family moved South of Ashland by the airport so she would not have to ride a bus from Englewood every day.  They later moved into town and Lela ran a café named the Sun and Sod Café. Her specialty was homemade pies.  She also worked in Buffalo, Oklahoma, at various restaurants.        Neva Alice was born August 29, 1967, in Ashland, Kansas.  Sometime later they moved to the Dunn Ranch South of Ashland.  One year while they were living there, a big snow came and they were snowed in for a week.  Their next move was to a ranch North of Woodward, Oklahoma.  Lela worked for a while for Trego Western Wear in Woodward.  She started by sewing leather coats and later did just about everything, including inspecting, shipping and packing.  She moved to Buffalo, Oklahoma, in November of 1974.  After her divorce in February 1975, Lela was asked to run for County Clerk of Harper County.  She ran, won the election, and held the job for twenty years. Her hobbies include cooking, being very good at feeding family or at large gatherings, spoiling grandkids with her specialty, snickerdoodles, cinnamon rolls and bierox.  The list goes on and on.  She also enjoyed sewing.  She provided clothing for her daughters for many years.  She took great pride in her beautiful flowers and rock garden, spending many hours planting and pruning.  She had many rose bushes, lilac bushes and a honeysuckle bush.  But don’t forget her hen and chicks.

Lela was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Leona Berends, 10 brothers and sisters: Clarence Berends, Coy Berends, Florence Whisenhunt, Vera Anderson, Carl Joe Berends, Kirby Berends, Zona Leona Berends, in infancy, Ivy Birch, Hazel Smith, Elmer Berends; son: Bruce Kent Harrington; son-in-law: Juan Rodriguez; great grandchildren: Gavin Shuman, Justin Rodriguez, Jr., Matthew Rodriguez and John Rodriguez.

Lela leaves as her survivors, three daughters: Cathy Earnest and husband Ron, Carla Shuman and husband Terry, and Neva Nicholson and husband Tommy; grandchildren: Levi Clark and wife Shannon, Casey Gulley, Tiffany Brannen and husband Jeremy, Ronnie Earnest and wife Leslie, Billy Earnest and wife Lisa, Dandy Shuman and wife Amy Lu, Dylan Shuman and wife Morgan, Kandi Shuman, Alycia Rodriguez, Justin Rodriguez and Angela Rodriguez; 25 great grandchildren: Addison Clark, Lathan Clark, Paisley Clark, Caylee Gulley, Emilee Gulley, Erin Brannen, Zaron Brannen, Aiden Brannen, Taigen Brannen, Tripp Earnest, Ellyanna Earnest, Alex England, Paige Earnest, Helena Earnest, Tace Shuman, Taylea Shuman, Kinsley Shuman, Tailynn Rodriguez, Amir Clay, Emory Clay, Dawson Rodriguez, Juan Rodriguez and Aiden Rodriguez, Samuel Rodriguez and Melinda Rodriguez; her sister: Audrey Hink; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

To send flowers to the family in memory of Lela Harrington, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Thursday, August 22, 2019

1:00 - 7:00 pm

Wilkinson Funeral Service Buffalo

306 SW 1st St, Buffalo, OK 73834

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Visitation

Friday, August 23, 2019

9:00am - 7:00 pm

Wilkinson Funeral Service Buffalo

306 SW 1st St, Buffalo, OK 73834

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Funeral Service

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Starts at 2:00 pm

Assembly of God / Buffalo

201 E Forester St, Buffalo, OK 73834

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