Reba Ellen Harnage's Obituary
Reba Ellen Harnage, 87, of Friendswood, Texas, passed away peacefully, September 19, 2022, surrounded by family. Ellen was born on January 9, 1935, on a farm in Ty Ty, Georgia. She was the eighth of ten children born to Mamie Edessie Smith Tomlinson and Clemmie Jackson.
Ellen grew up in a family of sharecroppers, and as a child she stayed close to her mom who worked fields of vegetables, cotton and tobacco. At the age of 6, the family moved to Moultrie, Georgia, where she graduated from Moultrie High School in 1953. While in high school, she helped her family by working in the fields, babysitting and working at the local dime store. She was baptized at Memorial Baptist Church and was active in the youth group. As a senior in high school, Ellen was voted “Most Dependable” and was awarded a college scholarship that she was unable to accept. After graduation, Ellen worked as a secretary and bookkeeper at DairyCo until 1955 when she met the love of her life, Jay Harnage, at a skating rink. They wed in 1956 and were married for 62 years.
Ellen and Jay moved to Atlanta while Jay completed his education at Georgia Tech. Ellen worked as a typist for Retail Credit in Atlanta until they moved to Florence, Alabama, where she worked at Reynolds Aluminum. In 1962, Ellen began her most rewarding job as a full-time homemaker. After Jay accepted a job at NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, she and Jay moved to Houston, Texas, in 1964. In 1980, she resumed her place in the workforce as a secretary for NASA. There, Ellen earned several awards, including, Sustained Superior Performance Awards, Employee of the Month, and the Public Service Group Achievement Award. After working for NASA several years, she left to join United Space Alliance as an executive secretary until she retired in 1998.
Ellen was active at Park Place Baptist Church where she sang in the choir and helped Jay lead a Sunday School department. She participated in many women’s Bible study classes and particularly enjoyed Bible Study Fellowship for several years. One of Ellen’s greatest joys was working on a Care Team through the United Way to assist caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients. A fond memory was meeting Willie Nelson at a United Way event. After moving to Friendswood, she and Jay joined Sagemont Church. Ellen loved sewing, crafts, reading and cooking. She was the consummate hostess and made everyone who visited her home feel loved and welcome. Her sweet tea was a favorite of many!
Ellen and Jay raised three daughters in Houston and were the proud grandparents of five grandchildren. She doted on her grandchildren and attended many school, church and sporting events until health issues kept her close to home.
Ellen was preceded in death by Jay, her husband of 62 years; her siblings, Clemmie James Tomlinson, Jr., Herbert Robert Tomlinson, Walter Franklin Tomlinson, Billy Lafayette Tomlinson, Mamie Lois Tomlinson Goodson, Virginia Helen Tomlinson Roberts, Lottie Mae Tomlinson Little, Debia Lucile Tomlinson Sitton, and Mary Jacqueline Tomlinson Odom. Ellen leaves behind her daughters: Karen Harnage Price; Tracy Kirkland Payne and husband Steve; and Kimberly Harnage Richards and husband Jack; and five grandchildren: Jessica Lynn Kirkland; Hannah Leigh Kirkland; Hunter Jyles Kirkland and wife Olivia; Evan Edwin Richards III; and Addison Ellen Richards.
Visitation will be at 1:00 PM prior to the funeral service at 2:00 PM on Monday, September 26, 2022, at South Park Funeral Home and Cemetery at 1310 N. Main Street in Pearland, Texas.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Ellen’s honor be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association.
You can watch the service via this online link:
http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/79085/hash:6B2965B3E2E09A8D
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