Anna Jean Harper

Anna Jean “Annie” Hayworth Harper July 25, 1928 – July 25, 2024 The community of Corvallis lost a longtime resident this week with the passing of Anne Harper. She passed peacefully on July 25 on her 96th birthday. Anne was born in Eugene, Oregon to Joseph Hayworth and Iva Scott Hayworth. She was the youngest of 4 children. Mom grew up a true farm girl, picking all forms of produce, driving windrowers and combines. She attended Wyatt School and Harrisburg High School, graduating in 1946. Mom continued her education by enrolling at Oregon State College, where she studied secretarial science. It was here she met our dad, Bill Harper, when she switched places with another student so that she and dad could be assigned lab partners! They married on September 3, 1949 in Harrisburg, OR. and were married 66 years before our dad’s passing on September 10, 2015. Mom worked as a teller at the bank in downtown Corvallis, where the current Wells Fargo bank is today. Upon dad’s graduation from Oregon State in 1951, they moved to San Francisco where they welcomed their first daughter, Barbara, into the family. In 1952, they moved back to Oregon, living in Roseburg. They welcomed their second daughter, Kimberlee, in 1959. They returned to Corvallis in 1963 and both worked in the Athletic Department at Oregon State. In 1970, and until her retirement in 1996, she worked in the Men’s Basketball Office as the Office Manager. She worked for 3 coaches, Ralph Miller, Jim Anderson, and Eddie Payne. Those year’s she counts as her “most memorable”, traveling with the teams to tournaments. A highlight of her career was being honored by the 1981 Men’s basketball team in January 2024. Her comment was “I feel like I’ve died and gone to Heaven”. In addition to working, she was involved with PEO as a member of Corvallis Chapter DQ. She was also known as the “Apple Cake Lady” for Stone Soup. Her love of Beaver Sports led her to be a fixture at many sporting events. Anne is preceded in death by our dad, Bill Harper, her brothers, Richard and John, and by her sister Margaret, sister in law Pat, brother in law Frank and nephew Robert. Anne was “Grama Anne” to 4 grandchildren, Jennifer Copeland (Josh), Brett Locey (Kelly), Kari Van Brunt (Roarke) and Kyle Hoover and girlfriend Petra Schenfeld. She was also blessed with 5 great grandchildren, Deagan, Brayden, Addison, Brady and Avery who referred to her as “Granny Annie”. She is survived by daughters Barb (Steve) and Kim (Jim) as well as many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the administration and staff of Stoneybrook Senior Living for their kind and wonderful care when she moved in on April 8, 2024 and for the remainder of her life. Also, the team from Lumina Hospice in Corvallis for their loving dedication to mom’s care at the end. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in mom’s name to Lumina Hospice at 720 SW Fourth Street Corvallis, OR 97333, or to the Oregon State Baseball Dugout Club or Men’s Basketball Program through Our Beaver Nation at give.fororegonstate.org website, by phone at 800-354-7281, or by mail at 4238 SW Research Way Corvallis, OR 97333. A Celebration of Life/Open House is scheduled for Sunday September 8 at the Corvallis Club, 1850 SW Whiteside Drive, Corvallis. Event goes from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. Please share your thoughts and memories for the family at www.McHenryFuneralHome.com.

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Anna Jean Harper

July 25, 1928 - July 25, 2024