Delores Harkins

Delores (Dee) Lee Harkins, 85, passed away on October 9, 2016 at the Life Care Center of Casper.

Dee was born and raised in North Platte, Nebraska to Clarence and Alice (Sones) McCarty, the second of four girls. After graduating from High School, she attended the three year Registered Nursing Program through Lincoln General Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska. She met her husband, Harwin Harkins, when she was completing her nursing rotation in Hastings, Nebraska. After they married in 1952, they lived for a year in Arapahoe, Nebraska before moving to Torrington, Wyoming in August, 1953 where Harwin was a high school teacher and then the junior high principal with the Goshen County School District. The couple had three children, Charles, Kimberly and Daniel. Harwin passed away in 1982. Dee worked many years as a dedicated nurse in clinics and hospitals in Torrington. At the time of her retirement, she was the head nurse at the Banner Health Community Hospital in Torrington. Her retirement years were spent in gardening, knitting, reading, spending time with her grandchildren, taking care of her beloved feline companion "Cat" and taking long walks throughout Torrington. She was a strong and independent woman and we were all saddened when her macular degeneration and Alzheimer's diagnosis robbed her of her independence.

Dee is survived by her son, Charles (Kate) of Casper, Wyoming and her daughter, Kimberly (Randy) Harkins-Schuelke of Missoula, Montana. She is also survived by her sisters, Barbara Honeywell of Dayton, Ohio, Velma (Gale) Porter of Key West, Florida and Dixie (Ray) Pate of Sun Valley, Arizona. She was extremely proud of her seven grandchildren, Lara Harkins, Ryan (Sara) Harkins, Brenna (Brett) Philbrick, Kristin (Christopher) Harkins, Keegan (Janel) Harkins, Gillian (Brock) Loeseke, Sarah Schuelke and Andrew Schuelke along with seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, Daniel of Scottsbluff, Nebraska; her husband, Harwin and her parents, Clarence and Alice McCarty. Arrangements are being handled by Newcomer Funeral Home in Casper. Condolences can be sent through www.NewcomerCasper.com.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at Torrington United Methodist Church, 2702 Main Street with Reverend Jeff Wayland officiating. If you feel inspired to honor her life, donations can be made to the Senior Citizens Center in Torrington, Wyoming or the Alzheimer's Research Foundation.


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