Coleen Evelyn Harden

Coleen Evelyn Harden, 99, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 12, 2025. She was born on January 11, 1926 to Lawrence and Dovie (Browder) Marlowe in Detroit, Michigan. She was the namesake of the late actress, Colleen Moore.

Coleen was proud to say she was an original Rosie the Riveter during World War II producing parts for the B-24 Liberator in Willow Run, Michigan. She maintained the “We Can Do It” attitude throughout her lifetime.

On March 24, 1951, she married the “love of her life”, Robert D Harden of Belleville, MI. They had relocated to Fort Myers, FL and shared 51 years of marriage prior to his passing in 2002. Coleen was a kind spirited woman and caring mother, step-mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She made friends wherever she went, loved to be the life of the party and was never short on cute and funny sayings!

Coleen was an active member of Gateway Church in Fort Myers, Florida volunteering with the youth and in the kitchen, she belonged to the local garden club, painted beautiful paintings, loved to go “junking” and was an active member of her community. She would often say keeping active and eating vegetables from the garden was the secret to staying young and living a long healthy life.

Coleen relocated to Brookdale Senior Living, Midlothian, VA on November 1, 2022, and was lovingly cared for by her granddaughter, Kari Parkhurst, and great-granddaughter, Skylar Zavsza.

Coleen is survived by her three daughters, Linda Morgan of Westland, MI, Roxanne Batway of Lansing, MI and Judi Joslin (Don) of Britton, MI; seven grandchildren, Kari Parkhurst of Midlothian, VA, Chris Fusina (Geline) of Wimauma, FL, Rachel Morgan of MI, Philip Batway (Christa) of Charlotte, MI, Jody Petit (Aly) of Bend, OR, Scott Batway (Jennifer) of Monroe, MI, and Joshua Petit of Britton, MI; and 7 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert D. Harden, her parents Lawrence and Dovie (Browder) Marlowe and her brother, Arthur Marlowe.

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.