Papa settled into Glory, reunited with all of our loved ones on March 27, 2018, shortly after his 92nd birthday.

Dad was the youngest of 10 kids. His father, Elijah Jefferson Barrett (October 6, 1867 to September 25, 1947) and his mother Willie Clyde Barrett (Davis) (April 22, 1882 to Nov 20, 1955) and married in Paducah, KY in 1904. Mrs. Willie Clyde Barrett gave life to her 1st born in 1905. They grew their family starting in KY while Elijah followed the railroad. Railroad jobs as a "Top Man of the Boiler Makers". Willie had 1-2 of their children every 2-3 years. The work required travel from KY, KS, and MI. They eventually took up a farm on the far N. Westside of Springfield circa 1910.

Harlan was born in MI in 1926. He was inducted into the U.S. Navy on March 27, 1944, and entered into active service for the U.S. Navy as Fireman First Class at 18 years old. The main vessel he served on was the USS General J.H. McRae. Angels watched over these treacherous voyages during WWII.

An excerpt from "The Nay-Mallum News" from October 15, 1945, on the voyages of the USS General J.H. McRae.

There are a few, if any, commissioned ships with the mileage record of "The Mac." In the 14 months since her first day on the high seas, she has traveled over 112,000 miles of waterways, many of them thickly infested with hostile subs. She made 40 stops at ports throughout the world, many times taking off the same day. In fact her total time in port totals about 150 days, refueling, victualing, repairing and loading or disgorging the more than 34,000 khaki-clad brethren that she has hauled all over the face of the earth. Her longest load consisted of 4033 combat veterans of the ETO, returned from Le Havre to Norfolk. This voyage finds the "Mac" carrying 3109 Army and 67 Navy personnel.

Completely ignoring the pointed and wrathful warnings of our friend "Tokoyo Rose", she carried the majority of the famous B-29ers of the 20th AF from Calcutta to new Marianas bases. The famous "Rats of Tobruk" took the "McRae way" from Australia to one of the Moluccas Islands, the springboard for the successful Borneo landing., while the roster was swelled by the Navy Carrier Air Group Two, parties to the first large air attack on Manila. And just to show she knew her geography, she took home some veterans of a couple of General Patton's divisions after the sensational drive through southern Germany.

From September 1944 to June 1945, the "Mac" specialized in the Pacific. She either landed at or sighted almost every American held island. Tacking off from L.A. early in January, she covered over 40,000 miles before her return to the States in late May. Such names as Tinian, Saipan, the great anchorage at Ulithi, Biak, Leyte, Morotai, Finschafen, are as familiar to her as San Francisco, Norfolk, Port Said, Narseille and Karachi.

A goodly percentage of her crew has been with her all the way, seasoned by and with their ship, for on the birthday, 75% of them were green and unlearned in the ways of the sea. Now her 34 officers, 321 Enlisted men, 1 Marine Officer and 30 EM, 2 Army Officers and 3 Non-Coms are smoothly-running, well-coordinated unit.

Our wandering hotel is 522 feet, 10 inches long, with a beam of 71', 8 ½". Our Maximum draft is 26' 6", averaging 23'. Loaded tonnage of 15,350 tons steams along at a maximum speed of over 18 knots, powered by steam turbines fed by the 557,650 gallons of oil which can push her over 10,000 miles without getting thirsty. And now the USS General J.H. McRae is once more on her way home after having sailed through the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Suez, Suez Canal, Mediterranean Sea, Straits of Gibraltar, Atlantic Ocean, and the NY Harbor.

After an honorable discharge from the Navy in late January 1946, he returned back to Springfield to visit his family and friends. Harlan met my mom, Wilma Jean Burlingame on a blind date with friends. It was love at first sight! They were married in Girard, KS on Nov 17, 1946, with the blessings of all their parents.

Mom and Dad moved back to Michigan so he could work with his brother, Marvin. They developed their talents and built their self-employed construction and carpentry business. Wilma and Harlan raised 3 rowdy boys in MI over 13-14 years. Then they returned to Springfield in the early 60s. And finally their baby girl was born. Springfield is where Mom and Dad continued to live, work, and grow their love for each other. Dad customized his van to accommodate his tools. He was always busy making, building, fixing, or remodeling something. He did much of this work out of the kindness of his heart for dear friends and family, just to see them smile from his labors of love. When he wasn't "on the job" he would be making the latest and greatest "handy-dandy" invention.

The time flying by, the children grow up and the grandchildren come along. Then the great-grandchildren arrive. There are challenges to everyone's life, but it is truly special to find someone to Love, Honor and Cherish for Life.

As we reflect upon our parents, we recognize that the 3 little letters barely touch the surface of the deep meaning of these labels.

Mom: Always pulls us in and holds us close with tender loving assurance with no words required. My mother was a sweet spirited lady with a gentle soul. She was a deeply loving and nurturing mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Dad: "Father" the very foundation of our family. The one who keeps us all grounded. He is the cornerstone and the strong tower, who sustains and steadies us while inspiring faith for our dreams, through his love.

Both parents surrounded us with their unconditional, irrevocable love. This is family.

As we care for our loved ones, God helps us discover our reserves of strength that we never imagined we have. The longest, most enduring paths will lead us into Heaven's light, when our journey is paved with love. We will always hold our parents near us in our hearts.

Harlan will be forever missed by his sons, Mark and Gary Lee; his loving and caring daughter, Debra; beautiful granddaughter, Lorisa and her husband Mike Kirkpatrick; grandson, Austin Drew Barrett and his lovely wife Ashley; and great-grandchildren, Parker James and Paxton "Kirk" Barrett, Landen Blake and Violet Saree Kirkpatrick.

In lieu of flowers or donations, please practice Acts of Kindness every day. Sometimes just one small gesture can give us the strength to do enormous things. Through generosity and compassion we can unleash great tenderness, leading ourselves and others to truly real love. A few words, a single conversation can have the power to change, a mind, a path, or a life. Kindness can help us stay in courage, believe and maintain our faith.

Services officiated by Chaplain Steve Clark and held at 2 PM, on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery with full Military Honors.

A special thank you to all of the nurses and staff of Preferred Hospice of Ozark for their care for my father.