Death date: Jan 20, 2015
John Alexander Harrower, passed away January 20th, 2015. He was born in Detroit, Michigan to the late Alexander and Esther Harrower. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his son, Guy Alexander; daughters, Jan Eli Read Obituary
Tim, my husband, was remembering John as his first principle and what a great man he was. I remember him as my best friends Dad and his love for his family. We want to offer our sincere condolences. Jan, I would love tohear from you.We're still in Holly. I remember you all with love. Leslie Longstreth White
John was my 7th grade teacher the first year he taught - in Davisuburg - for the Holly School System. Later, I babysat his son, later still, when I became a teacher at Holly High School, John was very kind, as usual. [One time when I was subbing for a history teacher at the Middle School, John, the principal, came and listened to me 'spout off'. During lunch I tried to open a can of pop, and wound up spraying him with the contents.] He was a dear man and he and Don both were teachers I tried to emulate during my 50 years on the job. Barbara Bethune Brown [married Walt Brown... a fellow classmate, from Davisburg, 53 years ago.
We worked with John at MCC in the Math Dept. He was a good friend and loved his family deeply. After he quit teaching, John didn't just sit back and take it easy - he volunteered to help tutor students. He loved math and loved teaching. Please accept our deepest sympathy.
David and Sandra Jessee
In offering my sincere condolences to the Harrower family, I reflect fondly on the times long ago when John was my elementary school principal, and much later a colleague during my time on the Holly Area Schools Board of Education, when John served as the district's Curriculum Director. I'll never forget his wisdom and kindness.
-Bill Coale
The Frownfelter family is sending our deepest sympathy and prayers to John's family. We have known John and his family for many years.. Our father owned 10 acres next to John and as kids we all played baseball together and just hung out when we were younger. John was a wonderful person who had a quiet way about him; when he did speak, he had a way of grabbing attention with his words. We truly thought of him as a great man with so many wonderful qualities. He had a big heart and a gentle personality that everyone loved. Another memory of him was he toted a pipe in his mouth and it always smelled so good... We know he has many people who are going to miss him.
Delores, Kirk, Janine, Craig, Mark
Donald who passed June 2014
So many great memories of the Mackey Rd. gang. It was a unique settings, having everybody on the road affiliated with education, and all us kids around the same age. Great times with great people. My heart aches for all the tragedy that has struck many of these great people.
Nancy Moore
friend
John was my brother-in-law. We always got a good laugh over the time one winter, when we were on Cooley High School's obstacle course. I was 4' 11", and was st the top of the 8' wall. John was below me on the other side. He put his arms out, saying "I'll catch you." I jumped, he turned away, and I landed in 16" of snow! (Unhurt!) He had a fun sense of humor.
One thing I liked about John was that he always had a knack for enjoying people. He liked being around people and they liked being around him. I will miss him!
John was my older brother by 2 years and 11 months. When I was 14 we got our first car together. Dad took us to buy a 1929 Model A. It was 1933. When we got home, dad got out his toolbox and talked us through taking it completely apart, down to the bare block, then putting it back together. Then he said, "Now you know what's in it, so take care of it!" During high school, we owned 14 cars together! The Secretary of State told my dad that if we bought and sold one more car that year, he would have to get a dealership license.
Growing up you could usually find us together and I always knew he had my back, no matter what. John played more sports than I did, due to my poor eyesight, but we both excelled at Track and Field. I did hurdles and sprints and John was into the high jump and pole vault. We both ended up becoming teachers in Holly and built homes down the road from each other to raise our families in. John moved to Florida and I followed after I retired, again moving into the same neighborhood in Florida. After so many years together, there is a large hole in me now that he's gone. I'm working on filling it with many great memories!
