Agnes Beatrice Harned

Agnes Beatrice Harned, beloved sister and aunt, passed away peacefully in the early hours of August 7, 2020, at Mackenzie Place in Fort Collins, Colorado. She was 94 years of age. A sweet and gentle soul, she will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.

Born at State College, MS, on 22 December 1925, Ms. Harned grew up on the Mississippi State campus. A 1943 graduate of Starkville High School, Ms. Harned attended Mississippi State College (now University), and then Colorado University at Boulder, where she was awarded the B.A. in English Literature, in 1947. She was a member of Chi Omega social sorority. From there, Ms. Harned moved to New York City, where she studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Art and pursued her interest in acting. After a long career of service, she retired from the New York City Department of Social Services, to Arlington, VA, and later moved to live with her widowed sister in Tucson, AZ, and then in Fort Collins, CO. She was a birthright Quaker.

Ms. Harned was preceded in death by her sister Ann Harned; her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Horace H. Harned, Sr., of State College, MS; and brothers Dr. Arthur Rice Harned, and Horace H. Harned, Jr.

Surviving Ms. Harned are her sister Helen Harned Downer, of Fort Collins, CO; her brother Wentworth Vail

“Winky” Harned (Marilynn) of Williamsburg, VA; nieces and nephews Diane Downer Schock (Anthony), of Fort Collins, CO; Patricia “Trish” Downer, of Tucson, AZ; Cathy Downer Dorman of Fort Collins, CO; Margaret Ann Harned Chandler, of Starkville; Helen Harned Dillard (Jim), of Niceville, FL; Alice Harned Walters (Duane) of Starkville; Horace H. Harned III, of Starkville; E. Nathan Harned (Courtney) of Melfa, Virginia; and Alexandra Rice “Alex” Harned, of Nashville, TN; as well as a dozen great-nieces and -nephews and many great-great nieces and nephews.

A service honoring her life is to be held at a later date.

Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice, bearing in mind Ms. Harned’s love of both children and animals. wife, Fay Walker. He was a Korean War veteran and after serving in Korea, returned to marry Fay to whom he was married 61 years. He attended horology school at Jones Junior College and put those skills to good use in his retirement tending to clocks of all ages at the Cullis Wade Clock Museum of Mississippi State University.

After working in sales for many years in Starkville, Harold seemed to know everyone and never met a stranger even in far away places. He was a teaser and practical jokester. He loved making his mother-in-law’s sweet pickles every year and was known to send gallons through the mail. He was a long-standing member of Aldersgate Methodist Church and he and his wife had a monthly “supper club” with dear friends for approximately 40 years.

Harold is survived by his daughter Lisa Rone (Melba Lara) of Chicago, IL, his son David Rone of Starkville, his sister Ruby Fountain of Forest and many nieces, nephews, and grands. He was preceded in death by his wife, Fay Walker Rone, his sister Ethel Brunt, his brother Joe Rone and his parents, Effie and Henry Rone. The family wishes to thank the doctors and staff of North Mississippi Medical Center for their kind care over the years and all his Starkville doctors who kept him going.

Due to Covid-19 we will be holding a memorial service at a later date.

You may go online at www.welchfuneralhomes to leave a condolence.