Jean Donalda Harley

Jean enjoyed remarkable good health right through her 98h year. She often commented, "I am so glad I have been blessed with perfect health and enjoy laughter and always carry a smile."

Jean was predeceased by her loving husband of 57 years, Rogers Harley and friend Donald Bethel.

She was born in Toronto on February 12, 1927 to parents Alice Beyer (nee Turton) and Clarence Beyer.

Jean was a silent person that accomplished great things and never received an acknowledgement. One such major accomplishment was her work that brought Brock University to St Catharines. Read about the complete truthful story on the founding of Brock U in her Hulse and English Obituary. www.hulseandenglish.com

Jean leaves behind a very loving family who will miss her dearly but always carry that smile she insisted on.

Her son Curt Harley who proclaims he had the best mother a boy could ever ask for. Also her Daughter in Law's, Nancy Freeland and Donna Neudorf.

She also leaves the legacy of a wonderful family she loved so dearly and was always there for. Jean's best and closest friend Granddaughter Carrie Ann Harley (Thom), Grandson Curtis Rogers Harley, Great Grandson Arik Martin Harley, Great Great Granddaughter Alice Jean Harley, Great Great Grandson Jonathan Curtis Harley, Great x 3 Granddaughter Anastasia (Annie) Jean Harley and Marquis Knight.

Sincere thanks for the best most compassionate personal care from Dr Candice Buetow.

She kept Jean smiling.

Visitation at Hulse and English as well as online condolences.

Founding of Brock University The true back story.

Like many events in history, not all are complete or fully factual. This is one of those.

Brock U is correct, 13 ladies of the Allanburg Woman's Institute were the founders of Brock University and Flora Egerter was the secretary.

As is the case in most organizations, the secretary is the person that is asked to write letters, make calls, attend meetings and record minutes and that is what Flora Egerter did for the ladies. These organizations would take on projects that would aid their communities and the ideas for those projects came from open discussion.

The Allanburg group was made up of ladies from the local farm community and this rural community was made up primarily with 2 distinct families, the Egerter and Youngblut's most of which were directly related to each other or by marriage.

The two standouts are Marge and Jean Harley who were essentially business women originally from St. Catharines. Marge Harley and Jean both university studied and related to men in affluent positions. Marge married Harry M Harley, a renown engineer and businessman originally from Philadelphia and Los Angeles. He grew to have many very famous friends in both business and politics. Marge herself came from a family that owned considerable property in and around St Catharines and operated businesses there. Marge was an accomplished writer of novels and short stories. Jean's father a Bay Street finance and stock manager had many influential friends and associates. He worked closely with major banks and political leaders. It remains debatable WHO actually came up with the idea but Jean was devoted to the University long after the others left.

In 1957 when the Ladies Institute agreed that their latest project endeavour would be to spark interest in creating a new local University for St Catharines, all 13 ladies took up the tasks necessary for that to happen. Flora Egerter being the point person who would write letters, make calls and attend meetings on behalf of the group.

Marge and Jean reached out to their powerful friends and Jeans son recall's many of those friends coming to the house to discuss ways in which to help. H J Carmichael, Sam McLaughlin (the Coronet as they called him), and Ellis Morningstar.

Among the friends were Samuel McLaughin President of General Motors of Canada and Harry J Carmichael (uncle Harry as the family referred to him as ). Harry Carmichael came to St Catharines from Los Angeles and lived with the Harley's and through H M Harley got a job with McKinnon Industries while playing baseball. Carmichel later became President a of McKinnon's, later VP of Generat Motors and became a major Canadian Philanthropist. Now gone, the major expansion of the Hotel Dieu Hospital on Ontario Street came from the efforts of H J Carmichael and the south wing was named for his efforts and donation.

Once the spark had been lit and the Ontario Government agreed to support the idea, the condition was that the community had to raise funds for it. This is about the time the ladies institute stepped back but Jean and Marge really got going.

During the years of 1957 to 1964, H J Carmichael and friends worked behind the scene to lobby politicians and big money friends to support the University dream.

Jean focused on raising the money and immediately went to work for the newly formed University Founders Fund office in 1962 to raise money. She remained there until the University was built and the funding commitment was made in 1970.

Jeans passion for the University didn't end there. She went on the work for the University first with the new president Dr. Gibson, then the University Registrar until finally landing the position of Student Awards helping new students to secure their financial assistance. Jean enjoyed her work there until her retirement in 1990.

Brock had one of their people research the then referred to Founders so they could make media news at the 50* anniversary celebration. They reached out to the Institute and were centerer on Flora Egerter by the then remaining living ladies in Flora's family.

Jean and Marge Harley's names were never brought up during the research and to add further insult, Brock never extended an invitation to Jean. For 50 years Jean personally donated, volunteered and was employed by the University and Brock could not find her. It was onty after her son contacted the University and some persuasion did the University ask her to attend.

13 ladies all working shoulder to shoulder and they received little recognition. One would think the appropriate action would have been to erect a historical plaque with the story of the founders. Name the street, "13 Institute Way". The naming of one person just seemed rude.

Now you know the rest of the story.

Thank you, Jean Harley and many thanks to the other 11 dedicated women.