Dr. Paula Kay Harbison, DPM

Paula Kay Harbison, DPM passed on May 25, 2019 at the age of 64. Dr Harbison was born and raised in southern California with summers spent on her grandparent’s farm in the Iowa fields. She spent her youth in the company of her parents, brother and friends. As she grew older, she sought to employ her talents in the service of others. In her undergraduate years, she invested herself in medical studies and later entered the podiatric profession. During her training in Detroit, MI, Dr Harbison met her future husband. They married in 1983 and had two children.

Dr Harbison was an exemplary physician and never wavered in advocating for her patients. She dearly loved her family and was the bedrock and the heart of the home. She was an expert at managing the most difficult situations and her advice was cherished by all who knew her. Dr Harbison always did her utmost to demonstrate leadership, compassion and dedication. She spent her time away from work teaching at Western University, gardening, hiking and working on a multitude of projects. In her 64 years, she hiked across the Grand Canyon in a single day, along Catalina Island with her daughter, through the Sierras with her son’s Boy Scout troop, and aspired to complete the John Muir Trail.

She cultivated a beautiful garden, engaged in volunteering with the underprivileged and nature societies, and had a fondness for Celtic music. Dr Harbison had a deep, abiding care for co-workers and patients. In particular, she had a wonderful relationship with Edward Duran and Tori Maricich with whom she spent many years at Garden Grove Medical Center. She had enormous respect for her colleagues, including Dr Eto, Dr Honsberger, Dr Benedetti, Dr Cooper, Dr Pastor, Dr Cortez, Dr Liu, Dr Hong, Dr Valley and Dr Digiuseppe. Dr Harbison’s meticulous nature and dauntless dedication made her a physician that others aspired to emulate.

She cared immensely about her dear friends, Mike and Esther Kim, and her uncle, Corwin Smith. She inspired all around her to look to tomorrow and be prepared for whatever may happen while keeping a positive attitude. She is survived by her husband, James F Cook, her son, James A Cook, and her daughter, Alyssa N Cook. She will be remembered for her wisdom, her intelligence and her kindness. Her family, patients and colleagues will dearly miss her.

Memorial service will be held at Westminster Memorial Park on June 8, 2019 at 2:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Brain Tumor Association.