Lela Harrod

Lela Marlowe Harrod died in her home in Frankfort on December 25, 2007, at age 94. She was a long time resident of Frankfort. Lela was born January 22, 1913, in Lawrenceburg, the daughter of Obadiah Kitchen Marlowe and Julia Ann Worford Marlowe. Lela graduated from Lawrenceburg High School and attended Spencerian Business School in Louisville. She was married in 1931 to Russell Earl Harrod, a native of Frankfort, who became a Frankfort business entrepreneur, church, and civic leader, first as the owner of Harrod�s Confectionary "Pete�s Corner� at Bridge and Second Street and later as the founder of Blue Bonnet Ice Cream Company on Versailles Road. She was active in community affairs in Frankfort in earlier years.Mrs. Lela was a long time member of the Garden Club of Frankfort and a charter member of the Frankfort Country Club. Her civic and church work included former membership in the Central Kentucky Women's Club, the King's Daughters Auxiliary, the local board of the American Red Cross, the Frankfort Public Library, and the Central Kentucky Golf Association. She had served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and trustee of Highland Christian Church. In earlier years she worked aiding youth from the former Kennebec Hall in Frankfort. She was the sorority house mother at Zeta Tau Alpha, University of Kentucky for some years after the passing of Earl Harrod in 1975. She was a life long devotee, patron, and champion of central Kentucky, its culture, civility, beauty, and charm. For her, central Kentucky was always the undoubted "Garden of Eden". In particular, she loved the gardens and farmlands of her native region. She is survived by a son, James Russell Harrod, MD of Santa Rosa, California, two grandsons, Steven Seth Harrod of Dayton, Ohio, and Andrew Earl Harrod of Keswick, Virginia, two great grandchildren, Stuart Thomas and Clara Grace Harrod, nephews Bill and James Catlett, and nieces Julie O�Brien and Betty Marlowe Turpin. A son, Earl Thomas Harrod died in 1957 while a student at Frankfort High School. A private internment is planned. The family wishes to express grateful appreciation to all who supported and cared for her during her illness, in particular, Judy and Bill Catlett, Lou Ann Mitchell, Terry Stratton, Hospice of the Bluegrass, Home Instead, Senior Care: especially primary caretakers Rhonda Hieatt, Amanda Hockensmith, and Grace Tamnjong, among others. The family would greatly enjoy receiving notes and cards with anecdotes of memory of Lela from her friends to be placed in Lela's Memory Book. Donations to the Paul Sawyer Library or a charity of choice may be made in Mrs. Harrod's memory. Online condolences may be shared via the online guestbook at www.harrodbrothersfuneralhome.com.

Tributes

Lela Harrod

January 22, 1913 - December 25, 2007