Garnand Funeral Homes
Mae Jane Harlan
March 17, 1924 - November 13, 2009
Elkhart, Kansas

Visitation: 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., Monday November 16, 2009 at Garnand Funeral Home in Elkhart, Kansas.
Funeral Service: 2:00 p.m., Tuesday November 17, 2009 at Hillcrest Baptist Church in Elkhart, Kansas with Pastor Terrell Giddens officiating.
Interment: Elkhart Cemetery in Elkhart, Kansas.

Mae Jane Harlan, age 85, died Friday, November 13, 2009 at Morton County Care Center in Elkhart, Kansas. She was born March 17, 1924 at Lake Traverse Indian Reservation in Roberts County, South Dakota to Samuel and Evelyn (DuMarce) Crawford. Wajanwin- Lets Light In Woman was the granddaughter of Chiefs. Mae was a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota (Sioux) Tribe.

Mae attended boarding school at Stephan Indian Mission, and Flandreau Indian School. After high school graduation she attended and graduated nursing school from Bartron College in Watertown, South Dakota. She completed her nurses training at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. She retired after 38 years as a registered nurse. Mae and Melbourne Kenneth Harlan met in Cheyenne Wyoming and were later married on December 8, 1952 in Tucson, Arizona. They moved to Elkhart, Kansas in 1952 where Mae worked at the Tucker Hospital. They had three children: Nancy Lee, Kenny and Gary Dean. Mae and family moved back to South Dakota, where she continued her nursing career. In 1969 Mae returned to Elkhart and worked at the Morton County Hospital as a registered nurse until the time of her retirement. She attended the Hillcrest Baptist Church, and greatly enjoyed the Senior Citizen’s Center in Elkhart.

Survivors include one son, Melbourne Kenneth (Kenny) Harlan and wife ReJina; daughter, Nancy Lee Harlan of Denver, Colorado; brother, Franklin Crawford of Sisseton, South Dakota; sisters, Emma Neilson, Lima, Ohio, and Evelyn Dwimoh of Silver Spring, Maryland; grandchildren include: Melodee and Arlo Panter, Zachary Harlan, Jaxon, Leana Mae and Macy Kenneth Lytle, Jason, Jacob and Jessica Harlan, Frank Jr., and Gerald Reyes, Rita Granados, Kelsy Serrato and Hopi Sanchez. Mae had 12 great-grandchildren: Scott, Stevie and Vera Harlan, Colin and Aubry Harlan, Ayana Harlan, Rico Joel Reyes, Serena and Kaci Reyes, Dravin Granados, Taylee and Braelyn Reyes, Rudy, Angel, and Reisa Rodriquez, Presley Aranda, Kalub Williams, and Madison Lee.

Mae was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Gary Harlan; brother, Cyrus Crawford; and two sisters, Lillian Yammerin and Blossom Keeble.

Memorials may be given to the Elkhart Senior Citizens Center in care of Garnand Funeral Home, PO Box 854, Elkhart, KS, 67950.

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