Harlene McDaniel Henderson, 86, passed away in her home in Sarasota, FL with her family on June 6, 2020. She was born Sept. 9, 1933 in Cassville, MO to Dr. E.E. McDaniel and Emmagene George McDaniel and is survived by her former husband of 40 years-Dewey D. Henderson, 3 children-Lane M. Henderson, Ellis H. Henderson and Kellie N. Henderson-Sassoon, a granddaughter-Eden Noelle Sassoon (who knew her as “Peeka”) and her favorite son-in-law, Jack Sassoon.
Harlene graduated from Drury College in Springfield, MO and later earned her Masters in Social Work from Kansas University. She worked for the Division of Children & Family Services in Springfield, finding adoptive homes for difficult to place children with disabilities. She later became a successful business owner of Savage Juliette, a women’s boutique clothing store in downtown Springfield.
Her favorite things as a girl were riding her horse and fishing with her dad.
She enjoyed politics, reading, camping, hiking, being outdoors and folk music festivals with friends in the Ozark mountains. She helped found the Unitarian Universalist church in Springfield and after retirement was a member of the UU Church in Sarasota, FL. Later in life, favorite things evolved into Tampa Bay Rays games, live music & dancing and being a fun grandmother.
We will miss her eternal optimism, quick wit, sense of humor and her love for all creatures great and small and will always remember her dancing as she loved to do.
The family would like to thank all of her life long friends whose support and love meant so much to her. In lieu of flowers, a small donation could be made to causes important to her such as Black Lives Matter, environmental organizations, the UU Church or wildlife and/or pet rescue charities.