Wilma Harkins

Wilma Mieir Harkins, longtime resident of Ponca City, went home to be with the Lord early Friday morning, May 13, 2011 with her youngest son, Robert Harkins, with her. She was 98 years of age. Robert has been her loving caregiver for the past 10 years, with the last 5 months being 247 with only the exception of Wilmas son Ralph Harkins and Wilmas daughter, Bonnie Ake flying in to help out on several occasions.

Wilma was born December 8, 1912 in Perry, Oklahoma. She was the third of 10 children born to William Mieir and Constance Briggs Mieir. Wilma attended the Perry Public Schools. While growing up, she attended the Southern Baptist Church of Perry where she came to know the Lord.

Wilma married Floyd Harkins at an early age, as he also lived on his familys farm at Perry. The couple moved often during their early married life, following jobs in road construction which was what was available in Depression days. Wilma learned to cook over a campfire as they often camped with their older two children along the road. They traveled much of Oklahoma and Texas panhandle during this time.

In 1936 Wilma moved with her husband and children to the Ponca City area, living first in Bois d Arc then moving seven miles south of Ponca City. Her last five children were born in the Ponca City Hospital and her four older children graduated from Ponca City High School. During this time Wilma attended the Nazarene Church in Ponca City with her children.

Wilma, along with her husband and children, moved to Kaw City in 1949. She became a member of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Kaw City. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School while her children attended there. She also became a member of the Kaw City Chapter of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed seeing her youngest five children grow up playing basketball and graduating from the Kaw City Public Schools.

After Robert graduated from high school, Wilma often traveled, when work permitted, to visit her children in Albany, Georgia Houma, Louisiana Chatsworth, California San Diego, California and Lowell, Massachusetts. She enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to travel with her children to the Middle East, Californias Redwoods, Sequoia National Park, Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon, the Florida Everglades, and much of the East Coast. She often said she had seen the beauty of the U.S., the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but Oklahoma was always her home.

In 1958, Wilma, for the first time went to work outside the home. She worked in nursing homes, in the Ponca City Hospital, and in hospitals in Albany, Georgia and Houma, Louisiana. She loved every minute of working in these positions and often spoke proudly of having had the pleasure of having helped in the delivery of grandchildren while working at the Ponca City Hospital. She later went to work for the Salvation Army where she continued working until she was approximately 88 years old. She also attended Home League there for some time.

In 1968, Wilma moved from Kaw City to Ponca City and for a time, her sister, Dora Culver, lived with her and she continued working at the Ponca City Hospital.

In 1989, she moved back to the new Kaw City, where she lived for the next eleven years. She once more became active in the Christian Church of Kaw City and taught the Adult Sunday School as well as helping in any way possible with the youth of the church. While living there, Wilma appreciated having Mary Harkins, her daughterinlaw, help in many ways although Wilma was independent and cared for herself. In 2000, Wilma once more moved to Ponca City to her present home in the Osage. Wilma continued enjoying her gardening and visiting her children. She also enjoyed cooking, crocheting, playing cards and in earlier days, fishing.

She is survived by a brother, Don Mieir of Ponca City sons Robert Harkins, and wife, Kay, of Ponca City Kennith Harkins and wife, Alice, of Lowell, Massachusetts Ronald Harkins and wife, Nieva, of San Diego, California Ralph Harkins and wife, Judy, Raleigh, North Carolina Keith Harkins and wife, Arline, Chantilly, Virginia Ted Harkins and wife, Mary, of San Diego and a daughter, Bonnie Ake, of Chatsworth, California 24 grandchildren 36 great grandchildren and 18 great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents her husband 2 sons, Floyd Harkins Jr. and Eugene Harkins 1 daughter, Peggy Potter eight brothers and sisters, Frank Mieir, Peggy Bryant, Dora Culver, Albert Mieir, Phil Mieir, Charles Mieir, Teddy Mieir and Bob Mieir daughterinlaw, Vicki Harkins and soninlaw, Allan Ake.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 19, 2011 at the Community Christian Church with Pastor Mark Lyon presiding. Interment will follow in the Grandview Cemetery in Kaw City under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.

Casket bearers will be grandchildren and great grandchildren, Keri Robinson, Tori Harkins, Todd Harkins, Jared Harkins, Terry Harkins and Jeff Harkins.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ponca City Cancer Center, 609 Virginia, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74601 or to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 1904 North Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74601.