Jan Meryl Harney
December 11, 1941 - February 27, 2025
Jan Meryl Harney was born to Ruby E. (Fergerson) and Samuel D. Leathers on December 11, 1941 in Ponca City, Oklahoma. She was the youngest of three siblings, Mary Beth (Leathers) Austin, Max Leathers, and Ken Leathers all of whom preceded her in death. She attended a little country school near the family home and graduated from PoHi in 1959.
She grew up running barefoot, wild and free in rural Kay County just south of Ponca City on the family homestead where her love of nature, horses, and all things outdoors was cultivated. She thrived in the wide open spaces with the wind in her hair. She cooked, loved, and lived her adult life with that same reckless abandon - giving others joy and encouragement along the way whenever she could.
She worked for Oklahoma Natural Gas before tackling her most cherished position as wife to Bill and mom to Joy, Gina and Doug. She was selfless, generous, and a peace maker throughout her life and she shared freely of her love and compassion which ran deep in her beautiful soul. To be the son or daughter of Jan was to know you were fully loved and exceedingly valued. She tackled all nighters sewing a homecoming outfit as skillfully as she navigated the role of pack mule, caterer and nurse to three kids and a husband on a family ski trip. She made endless sacrifices of all sizes while making it seem like she wasn’t.
She later worked as a certified dental assistant in Perry and ended her career with a role in banking although she continued helping Bill farm and raise cattle until Bill’s death in 2022.
She worked alongside Bill raising wheat and cattle, and was the best gate-opener, green chile dip and sauce creator, banana bread maker, hug giver and turkey baker we know. Whatever she set her mind to, she did well, and she encouraged others that they “could do anything they were big enough to do” as well.
Although she once embarrassed her entire family while in the lift line on a skiing trip in New Mexico by asking yelling out, “What’s that Mexican food we are having for dinner?” (It was enchiladas.) Later, she and Bill became experts in raising multiple varieties of green chiles in their home garden and had an annual fry fest featuring chile rellenos just before the first fall freeze of each season.
After the loss of Doug in 2005, she persevered with strength, dignity and unwavering faith which also carried her through the loss of her husband, Bill, in 2022. She thought of others before herself and always looked for the positive even in challenging situations such as her most recent hospitalization when she learned of the malignant brain tumor that quickly took her earthly life but could not impede her feisty spirit.
Her sense of humor shined brightly even in that dark time and will bring smiles to our hearts and faces in the coming days and years as we remember her with joy and gratitude. Her first two days home from the hospital were precious gifts to her as she visited with a steady stream of friends and family. She quipped, “I did such a good job getting sick to be able to see all these people I love!” She was a firm believer in the notion that grief is the price of great love, and love is always worth the cost.
She was a member of the First Christian Church in Perry, and dearly loved her pastor and congregation, especially her friends on the “widow pew” (their term). They shared a bittersweet bond that forged a healing salve shared by all.
Jan won the mega lottery when it comes to neighbors and friends. Her “adopted” daughter, Valerie Valencia, made sure Jan knew she was dearly loved - especially after Bill passed. She brought breakfast and dinner by the house daily and did a million other things purely out of love for Jan. Her new neighbor friend, Sue Postelwait, joined Team Jan as a rookie, but Valerie and Sue were MVPs in Jan’s eyes and she deeply cherished their friendship. Bill and Shannon Bocox kept a loving watchful eye on Jan - jumping in to help with household issues that popped up, sharing stories about cattle, sharing food and so much more. God sprinkled abundant daily joy in Jan’s life through these precious friends and neighbors.
Sweet and spicy are a delightful combo, and Jan had an ornery streak of just the perfect proportion. She could give as good as she took in the playful teasing department. Due to a non-disclosure agreement, we cannot elaborate on many of the antics that portray this side of her, but it was fully intact even in her final days.
In addition to her parents and siblings, she was preceded in death by her husband, Bill and her son, Doug. Despite losing her dad at the age of 7 to a brain tumor, she flourished under the love of her mother and older siblings who taught her the values she embraced throughout her life.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Jo and Erron Ewy of Edmond, daughter Gina Harney of McKinney, TX, granddaughter Brooke Ketch and husband Josh, grandsons Bryce Ewy and Oliver Prows, granddaughters River McFarlane and Willow McFarlane, great grandsons Keegan and Kaiden Ketch and great granddaughter Kendall Ketch along with several beloved nieces and nephews.
Jan was a true Proverbs 31 woman of strong character, wisdom and devotion to God. She was a hard worker - caring for her family and others.
“She is worth far more than rubies…She is clothed with strength and dignity…”
We honor her for all that her hands have done and the legacy of love she leaves us.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 10 AM at the First Christian Church in Perry with Rev. Dr. Joshua Bell officiating. Burial of ashes will immediately follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Ponca City, Oklahoma. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home of Perry, 1408 N 7th St, Perry, OK 73077. We invite you to leave a message of condolence, expression of sympathy or perhaps share a memory of Jan at www.troutperry.com.
