Annette Harbaugh

Annette Marie Harbaugh (72) of Coffeyville, Kansas passed away Friday, December 6, 2024. Annette was born June 18, 1952, to Bob and Phyllis (Alan) Loffer of Coffeyville, KS. Annette grew up in West Coffeyville. She attended West Coffeyville School. Her memories of growing up in West Coffeyville were idyllic. She told stories while sitting on the bar that went over the entrance to the playground at the school singing “Happy Trails to You” with her friends as school let out. She also played down by the creek with the “West Coffeyville girls” until her mother turned on the floodlight that meant she should skedaddle home. 

Annette attended Roosevelt Junior High in the ninth grade and graduated from Field Kindley High School in 1970. She was active in theater and drum corps and spent her summers at Floral Hall in Walter Johnson Park performing in various theatrical productions. She attended Coffeyville Community Junior College transferring to Wichita State University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education in 1975. 

On August 9, 1975, Annette married the love of her life, Darrel Harbaugh, her husband of 49 years. They were true partners in everything. They enjoyed working together, even if it was just yard work. In fact, Darrel asked her to marry him after they finished mowing a lawn. 

Annette did not go into education after college but found her career in banking, where she worked most of her adult life. However, she was a great teacher to her family. A few nuggets of her wisdom were: measure twice-cut once; take your stage makeup and costume off before you meet the audience; take off your makeup before bed; moisturize; remember – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control; the kitchen is closed on Sunday; and the world does not revolve around you. 

Annette had many talents, most notably a beautiful singing voice. She spent many years in the church choir and occasionally shared her talent in local theater. She loved music. She liked to craft and build, and if she saw something she liked, she was pretty sure she could make it better. She made everything better. 

Annette is survived by her husband, Darrel Harbaugh, of the home, daughter Erin Clark (Joshua) and grandchildren Alex and Ethan, Broken Arrow, OK, son Jacob Harbaugh (Sarah) and grandchildren Aidan, Gabe, and Lena of Pike Road, AL, and her sister Amy Sallee (Larry) and family of Coffeyville, KS. 

Services will be held at 11am, Saturday, December 14 at First Baptist Church, 300 W. 9th Street, Coffeyville, KS with Pastor Dick Smith officiating. Annette’s family will receive friends on Friday, December 13 at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville from 6 to 8pm. The family request memorial contributions be to the Midland Theater Foundation as the theater was Annette’s passion project in her retirement. Contributions may be mailed to the Midland Theater Foundation, PO Box 545, Coffeyville, KS or to Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel Woodland Ave., Coffeyville, KS 67337. To leave an online condolence or share a memory visit her obituary page under www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com