Dorothy was born September 19, 1927 in Ames, IA where she was raised with her four sisters until their family moved to Champaign-Urbana, IL prior to her senior year of high school. Following her graduation from Champaign High School, Dorothy entered the Nursing Program at Mercy Hospital in Urbana, IL and graduated with her dear friend, Ruth Buck, in the Class of 1949. She met the love of her life, Roland H. Harkness, while attending nursing school and they were married on May 14, 1949.
While dedicated to being a devoted wife and nurturing mother for more than 57 years of marriage, Dorothy maintained her professional credentials and continued to practice nursing wherever her family lived to include Champaign-Urbana, IL, and Panama City, Miami, Jacksonville, and finally Orange Park, FL, where she retired from her nursing career. While well-qualified and prepared to work in any hospital department, to include Emergency Services and Intensive Care, Dorothy loved caring for newborns in the nursery and at risk babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit the most.
Dorothy was an active parishioner and long-serving volunteer at San Jose Catholic Church in Jacksonville, FL for nearly 40 years before moving to Saint Johns County where she has continued to practice her faith as a member of the San Juan Del Rio Catholic Church community and enjoyed participating in family activities. She will long be remembered by her family and friends for her love and devotion as a wife and mother, her kindly spirit, her warm compassion, her positive outlook, her sweet disposition, and her fervent faith in God and His promise of everlasting life through belief in the resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Roland H. Harkness; her parents, Dr. George C. Decker and M. Loras (Gibbs) Decker; her sisters, Mary Green, Laura Moran, Loretta Hansen, and Frances Tomlinson; her grandson, Parker Harkness and her granddaughter, Kristin Harkness. Survivors include her three sons, Thomas R. Harkness and his wife, Linda of Pittsville, VA, Timothy G. Harkness and his wife, Irene of Kennesaw, GA, Theodore A. Harkness and his wife, Lisa of Saint Johns, FL and her daughter, Teresa H. Stokes and her husband, Brian of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Other survivors include eight grandchildren and three great-children, Jessica Harkness of Arlington, VA; Eric Harkness and his wife, Lauren and their children, Camden and Reese of Arlington, VA; Rachel Harkness of Atlanta, GA; Erin (Harkness) Smalling and her husband, Tim and their daughter, Hayden of Kennesaw, GA; Rebecca Harkness of Saint Johns, FL; and Decker, Zachary, and Elizabeth Stokes of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Dorothy is also survived by nine nieces and nine nephews.
Visitation will be held on Friday, December 8 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in Hardage Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin with a Rosary Service at 7:15 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December 9 at 11 AM in San Juan Del Rio Catholic Church, 1718 State Road 13 St. Johns, FL with Father Dilip C. Pally officiating. Graveside services will follow at a later date in Greenlawn Cemetery, 4300 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to San Juan Del Rio Catholic Church or a charitable organization of choice.
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