Long-time Okmulgee County businessman Jack Clinton Harlan died July 1, 2021, at his home in Okmulgee. He was born Sept. 18, 1924, in Clarksville, Ark., to Kathleen Carl and Jackson Smith Harlan. Jack grew up in Prairie Grove, AR and after graduation from Prairie Grove High School, enlisted in the US Army Corps, serving as a 1st Lieutenant. Jack was a navigator, flying in B-17 bombers in Europe throughout World War 2. After his service, Jack attended the University of Arkansas, on the GI Bill and graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science in Business, the same year he married Margaret Jean Collier.
In the fall of 1951, he and Glenn Fidler established Fidler-Harlan Motor Company at 6th and Muskogee in Okmulgee. Jack and Glenn worked together until their retirement in the early 1980’s.
He served on the Board of Directors of First National Bank of Okmulgee for 53 years, a member of the boards of the Okmulgee Memorial Hospital, Okmulgee Jaycees, Okmulgee Chamber of Commerce, First United Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Church. Jack was a 70+ year member of the Okmulgee Masonic Lodge #199, the Okmulgee Bedouin Shrine and a member of the Royal Order of Jesters. In retirement, the Fidler’s and Harlan’s delivered Meals on Wheels together every Thursday.
Jack was preceded in death by Margaret Jean “Sis” Collier and Alice Riggs Shirley. Jack was loved and cared for in his home until his death by Mary Ann Dean, Suzy Davis, Sarah Sier and Amber Niscior.
He is survived by children, Fred and Kellie Harlan, Mary Harlan Lewellen and Margaret and Rob Hess, all of Okmulgee; grandchildren: Andrew Harlan, Maggie and Brent Bailey, Jackson and Kelcey Hess, Alex Hess and Mark Hess and great grandson, Mason Bailey.
A celebration of Jack’s life will be held Monday, July 5, 2021, at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Okmulgee, with Rev. Jerry Fielder and Dan Sulivant presiding.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Okmulgee Main Street or First Presbyterian Church of Okmulgee.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the McClendon-Winters Funeral Home of Okmulgee.