Hartwell L Harkins Jr.

March 9, 1934 – January 2, 2026

Hartwell Louis “Sonny” Harkins, 91, of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2026.

Sonny was born in Abbeville, Louisiana on March 9, 1934, to Hartwell Louis Harkins, Sr., and Blanche Liliane (Morgan) Harkins. He grew up attending The First Baptist Church of Abbeville, where his mother volunteered and taught Sunday school classes. His father was a carpenter, dairy farmer, gardener, angler, and beekeeper. Sonny would later fondly reminisce of family dinners and time spent on the farm with a large family of very dear grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, who helped shape his early life.

Following graduation from Abbeville High School in 1952, he attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette. He graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and was offered a job working with Westinghouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, only to be called back to Lake Charles, Louisiana a brief time later to proudly serve in the United States Air Force. After 2 years of service, he returned to Westinghouse and embarked on a successful career as an engineer. He attended Wilkinsburg Baptist Church where he met and later married Margie Elaine Nelson and started his family. A couple of years down the road, Sonny moved his family to Houston, Texas where he took a job with Brown & Root Inc. and became an active member, faithful supporter, and Elder of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church.

Years later, Sonny was offered a job working for Power Systems Engineering Inc. on one of the largest and most energy-efficient projects of its kind in the world at that time, supplying three hundred megawatts of electrical output to The Dow Chemical Company. He worked his way up to Vice President of the company before taking a position with Hawker Siddeley Power Engineering Inc. as President & CEO, engineering, building, and operating power generating facilities for the next 22 years.

As President & CEO of Marson Services, Sonny mentored and advised business leaders on corporate matters, allowing them to obtain a higher level of success in their operations. He also collaborated with international companies, seeking representation in the Houston, Texas area, to support them in realizing their long-term goals.

In his later years, he served as board member and Management Advisor for Silver Fox Advisors, a Houston-based group of executives who shared their years of experience and advice coaching, consulting, and mentoring CEOs, small business owners, and entrepreneurs to achieve success in life and grow their businesses.

Sonny was a Master Mason in Good Standing of Abbeville Masonic Lodge No. 192. He immensely loved his family and relished Sunday dinners, holiday get-togethers, and trips to the family's lake house. He was respected by those who knew him and will be deeply missed by family, friends, and all who loved him.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Margie (Nelson) Harkins, his parents, Hartwell Louis Harkins, Sr., Blanche Liliane (Morgan) Harkins; and his sister, Beverly Ann Harkins.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 9 years, Ann (Mobley) Harkins; his children, Bill (Susan), Tricia (Jay Hammerle), David (Sue); grandchildren Hailey (Ross Weishuhn), Madeline, Scott, Clayton, Emily, Zachary, Rachel, Jack; great grandchildren Rae and Daisy Weishuhn, and many other extended family members and dear friends.

Sonny’s “Celebration of Life” will be held in the Chapel at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church on Friday January 16, 12:00 PM, 11612 Memorial Drive, with a reception immediately following in the Parlor.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions in Sonny’s memory to an Alzheimer’s cure organization. Funeral arrangements provided by Forest Park Westheimer, 12800 Westheimer.