Ann Cordell Harrington

Ann Harrington, 89, of Plano, Texas, died February 10, 2023, in Keller, Texas. She is survived by her four children, Robin Brady (Scott) of Meridian, Ginger Ellis (Kirby) of Southlake, Bill Harrington (Evelyn) of Plano and Suzan Harrington of Boerne. She is also survived by her grandchildren Shara Harrington, Tori Deaver (Chad), Heather Rogers (Ryan), Matthew Brady (Danielle), Caroline Brady, Meredith Ellis, Julia Zakrzewski and J. D. Zakrzewski and one great grandchild, Rhiannon Rogers. She is survived by her sister, Gretchen Wilson (Shelby) of Bloomington, Indiana, and her cousins, Elizabeth Cagnon of Hillsboro and Frank Hildebrand of Austin as well as numerous nieces and other loved ones.

She was born Sara Ann Cordell February 12, 1934, in Wabash, Indiana, to William Hubert Cordell and Mildred Woodin Cordell. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Lee Harrington, Jr (Rob) in 2010, her sister, Pat Cordell Love and her parents.

Because her father was a geologist and landman, the family lived in many towns in many states before Ann graduated from high school in Abilene, Texas. She met her husband at Texas Technological College as Texas Tech University was then named. She quit college to support her husband until his graduation and then they moved to Abilene where Rob taught school. They moved to Plano in 1954 so Rob could farm the family place after his brother, Don Harrington, was injured in an automobile accident.

Ann decided that she wanted to work for the best and that was Stanley Marcus. She applied and was hired at Neiman-Marcus at the Preston Center location. She waited on many famous people including Greer Garson and Elvis Presley. She was offered an opportunity to become a buyer but turned it down because she and Rob wanted a family.

Ann was a very involved and loving mother and well known as one of the best roommothers. She faithfully attended almost all of the many activities of her four children including chaperoning band trips and getting to know the friends of her children. Many considered her to be a second mother. She was creative with beautiful handwriting. Ann was a good friend and a faithful member of the Chat & Chew and DAHM Good group of fun friends. Ann was also involved in many civic groups helping Plano grow.

She loved antiques, books, linens, Victorian scrap and other beautiful things and enjoyed having her booth Harrington Unlimited at Cobwebs Antique Mall. Ann and her friend Diane Morgan could often be found out at thrift stores and garage sales finding treasures.

While Rob Harrington was the one elected to public office, it was Ann who was first interested in politics. Ann’s involvement in Republican politics began with President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s first term who she saw at a rally in Lubbock, Texas when a freshman in college at Texas Tech. She worked for his election, but could not vote for him until his second term when she was 21. She campaigned for every Republican candidate for president since Eisenhower.

Although, John Tower had been elected to fill the Senate seat held by Lyndon Johnson in 1961, there were no Republican elected officials in Collin County. When Democrat Sam Rayburn died in November of 1961, Plano’s Conner Harrington decided to run for his Congressional seat. As one of the founders of Plano Republican Women (first meeting was held on July 17, 1962), Ann worked in Conner’s campaign and was the very first Campaign Chair for Plano Republican Women. Since then, she campaigned for local, state and national Republican candidates by serving as the precinct chair for her precinct for many years, block walking, phone banking, fundraising, mailing postcards, etc. She also served as an election judge for many years.

She was presented many awards from local and state Republican organizations including the John McVeigh Award in 1987 and Texas Federation of Republican Women 10 Outstanding Women of 1999. She was one of the first members of the Collin County MHMR Board (now LifePath Systems serving individuals and families impacted by behavioral health, intellectual or developmental challenges) and served as Chairman of the Board for five years.

Ann was a longtime member of First Christian Church in Plano, participating in many Bible studies and always requesting prayer for “our children, our grandchildren and our country.”

Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 16, 2023, at 1 pm at First Christian Church in Plano, under the direction of Ted Dickey Funeral Home. Graveside services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Benevolence Fund of First Christian Church of Plano are requested.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.TedDickeyFuneral.com for the Harrington family.