Olan Harlan

Olan Ray Harlan, 96, died October 22, 2011 at the Haven House in Terrebonne, Oregon at 9:30 p.m. He was born October 29, 1914, at the family home in Purdy, Missouri, the third child of Frank James and Rosa Ella (Phipps) Harlan. As a toddler he moved with his family by train from Missouri to Colorado. While they were at the train depot in Holly, Olan's older sisters were to watch him, but when his mother looked out of the depot, there was Olan standing on the railroad tracks between the rails. His mother was frantic. He grew up on a homestead near Vilas in Baca County, Colorado, attending school in Eureka and Vilas. He served in the Army during WWII as an x-ray technician outside of Tucson, Arizona where he met and married Sarah Alice Biggs on July 17, 1943. Their first son, Walter Ray, died shortly after birth Feb. 23, 1944. Their second son, Frank DeWayne was born 19 months later. Olan spent much of his adult life, after his service to his country, living in southeastern Colorado (Two Buttes and Walsh) and southwestern Kansas (Ulysses and Lakin) as a farmer and businessman. Olan loved horses and the farm. He and his Dad farmed with a team of horses. He always had a saddle horse that he rode to school. He spent most of his life on a farm farming. He loved following and discussing politics and seeing the countryside. After he moved to Idaho at the age of 92 he was still driving long distances to visit his brother and sisters, as well as crawling around on the floor to play with his great-granddaughter, Sarah Frances. After his beloved Sarah died May 8, 2006, he moved to be closer to his family. He lived with grand-daughter Ramona and her family in Hailey, Idaho until he needed more care than they could provide. In late April 2011 he entered an assisted living home near DeWayne. He was a member of the Christian Faith. Olan was preceded in death, by his parents; wife Sarah; infant son, Walter Ray; brothers, Russell and Leon Harlan; and sisters, Jewell Stewart and Dorothy Doner. Survivors include son DeWayne and wife Cheryll Harlan of Crooked River Ranch, Oregon; three grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren, sister Fay Brooks and sister-in-law Virgil Harlan both of Walsh, Colorado, as well as many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 29, 2011,(his 97th birthday) at 10:30 a.m. at Price and Sons Funeral Home, Garden City, Kansas. Donald Davidson and Doug Ogden will officiate. Interment will be at 2 p.m. at the Lakin Cemetery beside Sarah. Visitation will be at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Garden City, Kansas from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday.