Mrs. Helen P. Harness, 88, of Highland, Illinois, formerly of Quincy, died at 8:40 a.m. Tuesday (June 5, 2007) in the St. Joseph Hospital in Highland.

Born August 23, 1918 in Festus, Missouri, Helen was the daughter of William Henry and Laura Elmora Koch Bowen. She married Russell P. Harness on August 6, 1938 in Palmyra, Missouri. He preceded her in death on July 7, 1974.

Helen was a member of the First Baptist Church in Highland, Illinois. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, quilting and knitting and loved to work puzzles and play cards. Helen was devoted to her family and especially loved the time she spent with her grandchildren.

Helen was employed as a nurse assistant for 25 years at St. Mary Hospital.

Survivors include two daughters, Joyce Harness Vandiver and her husband Jim of Highland, IL. and JoAnn Harness Hogan and her husband David of Kellerville, IL.; two grandchildren, Brenda Hogan and Maurena Livengood; five great grandchildren, Elanda Neese and her husband Jay, David Dennison, Roy Livengood III, Shane Livengood and Matthew Gauch; seven great great grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Harness was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two granddaughters, Kimberly Ann Hogan and Terri Ann Haynes Henning; three brothers, Earl Bowen, Harold Bowen and Raymond Bowen; and two sisters, Dorothy McClinton and Ethel Mae Bowen.

Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 11:00 in the Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home. Burial will be in Greenmount Cemetery.

Visitation will be Saturday morning from 9:30 until the time of services at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Highland, IL.