Joyce Ann "Annie" (Bowling) Harrod

Joyce Ann (Bowling) Harrod was born on July 24, 1939 in Ashland, Kansas to Ben Bowling and Iva (Sawyers) Bowling. She was the eighth of nine children. She spent much of her childhood riding horses and driving cattle. She also drove a truck during harvest. She loved all her siblings and was especially fond of her older brother Gord. Ann was a cheerleader and played clarinet in the high school band. She graduated from Ashland High School in May of 1957.

After high school, she followed in big sister Elaine’s footsteps to nursing school at the Newman School of Nursing in Emporia, Kansas. She graduated from nursing school as an R.N. in September 1960.

While attending school in Emporia, Ann met an engineering student names Warren Harrod, a.k.a. Chuck. On February 24, 1962, the two were married. They ultimately settled in Wichita, where Ann began working as a nurse at Hillside Medical Office. She worked there for almost 40 years.

Chuck and Ann had two sons: Gordon, born in December of 1965 and Greg, born in October of 1967.

In 1993, Ann and Chuck purchased the “Lagniappe”, a small farmhouse on 35 acres of woods and streams in Woodson County, Kansas. (Lagniappe is a Cajun term that means “something extra”.) They traveled back and forth from Wichita to Lagniappe for over 30 years, effectively having two homes.

Ann became a grandma in November of 1997 with the birth of Gordon’s daughter Sarah, and again in September of 2001 when Eric was born.

Ann and Chuck traveled extensively. Trips included Vegas adventures, trips to Texas, Mexico, New Mexico, New Orleans, Massachusetts and canoe trips to Missouri.

Some of Ann’s fondest memories are from quilting with her sisters, nieces and friends. She loved gardening. She especially enjoyed day lilies. Her yards in Wichita and Lagniappe were always full of blooms and Kokopelli sculptures.

Ann died on January 19, 2025 after a month-long battle with colon cancer. She embraced her roles as mother, daughter, aunt, wife, sister, grandmother, nurse, gardener and quilter with passion.

She is preceded in death by husband Chuck, parents Iva and Ben Bowling, brother-in- law Les Harrod, uncle Phil Johnston and siblings Melvin, Charles Ocie (“Oat”),Gordon (“Gord”), Margie (“Tiny”), Betty (“Sis”), Elaine and Darlene (“Doll”).

She is survived by sister Karen Maris of Ashland, Kansas, sons Gordon (Michelle) of Wichita, Kansas and Greg of Monterey, California, and grandchildren Sarah (Portland, Oregon) and Eric (Manhattan, Kansas).

Ann is also survived by Aunt Ann Johnston, in-laws Lauren and Maggie Harrod of Yates Center, Kansas, Cheryl Harrod of Lawrence, Kansas, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.