Eleen Harkins

Funeral services for Mrs. Eleen Harkins, 93 of Cookeville, will be held Thursday March 7 at 11 a.m. in the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home with Bro. Buddy Johnson officiating. Interment will follow in Crest Lawn Cemetery. After a wonderful and productive live, Mrs. Harkins was taken home by the Lord Sunday evening March 3, 2013 at her home. She was born June 17, 1919 in Overton County, Tennessee to the late Porter and Stella Wright Reeser. Mrs. Harkins graduated from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (TTU) with the distinction of being the first women to receive a Bachelor"�s Degree in Chemistry from the School. She spent her career in the medical field as a medical technologist. She and her late husband LeRoy, were drawn to family in Cookeville after World War II. They were encouraged by the dedicated doctors in the area to open a private laboratory for the hospital in 1946. They became an integral part of Cookeville General Hospital when the hospital was opened in 1950 as the two of them became the entire staff of the medical technology department. She served as supervisor for that department retiring on her 80th birthday with over 50 years of dedicated service. She was a life-long member of Jefferson Avenue Church of Christ where she served the Lord in many ways including teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School Classes for years. One of her most enjoyable works for many years was a member of a missionary team doing the Lord"�s work in San Blass Islands of Panama working with the Kuna Indians. In addition to his parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, LeRoy Harkins; and a brother, Donald Reeser. Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Wayne and Dottie Harkins of Independence, Missiouri; two grandchildren, Kristy (Anthony) Genevose and David Harkins; great grandson, Michael Genevose all of Tampa, FL; sister, Frances Bumbalough and her husband, Gaylon Presley; nephew, Tim (Charlene) Bumbalough; and great niece, Sarah Bumbalough all of Cookeville. Friends will serve as pallbearers. Mrs. Harkins"� family will receive friends Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and again on Thursday from 9 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.