Hagen, Harriet

1922-2017

Harriet Kathryn Ellicott Hagen, age 95, passed to eternal life on October 12, 2017, at Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard, NC surrounded by her loving family, following a brief illness.  She was born in Vandalia, IL on August 25, 1922, to Harold and Harriet Perkins Ellicott.  Harriet attended the University of Illinois, where she was elected to the Mortar Board Society for scholarly merit.  At Illinois, she was on the varsity women’s field hockey team and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education.  Harriet subsequently completed her Master’s degree in Kinesiology at Indiana University, where she also met her future husband, Milton M. Hagen.  Milton and Harriet were married in 1950.  A life-long teacher and scholar, Harriet served in the physical education department at Michigan State University, as woman’s basketball coach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and as physical education coordinator in Kansas City, MO.  While in Kansas City, she provided inner city children after-school activities that included square dancing and organized games.  Eventually, Harriet taught in K-12 public schools in Birmingham, AL, and at Country Day School in Charlotte, NC.  She furthered her education by obtaining her Master’s degree in Library Sciences at Wingate College. Harriet subsequently served as librarian at Steel Creek Elementary School (Mecklinburg Co, NC), Ashbrook High School (Gastonia, NC), and Central School in Kings Mountain, NC.  After retirement, she was active in the community, working as a volunteer at the Mauney Memorial Library, the Kings Mountain Crisis Ministry, and at the Kings Mountain Hospital.  Harriet, a devout Christian, faithfully served the Lord throughout her life.  She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church for the last 47 years of her life, where she was the teacher of the women’s Friendship Sunday school class.  In 2013, Harriet moved to Brevard, NC, and resided at College Walk where she availed herself of the many activities that the assisted living facility provided.  Harriet is preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Harriet Ellicott, and her brothers Dean, Benjamin, and Lyle.  Her husband, Milton, also preceded her in death, having passed away in 2006.  She is survived by her sister, Adah Manby of Star, ID, her children Erik Hagen of Hilliard, OH, Tory Hagen of Corvallis, OR, and Kristen Harry (and son-in-law Randolph Harry) of Brevard, NC.  In addition, Harriet is survived by three grandchildren, Ellie Hagen, Ben Hagen, and Wren Harry, who loved her deeply.  A memorial service and celebration of Harriet’s life will be held on October 20, 2017, at 11 AM at Grace United Methodist Church, Kings Mountain, NC, with the Reverends Julie Roberts and Randolph Harry officiating.  Interment will take place at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or the American Heart Association.

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