Obituary of Harriet Pauline Jorgensen

Harriet Pauline was born April 4, 1930 in St. Paul, Minnesota to David and Ella Fitzgerald. She was their only child together, but she was born into a blended family that came with three older step siblings who were Lynn, Grace, and Marion. The family remained in St. Paul for about ten years before they moved to Portland in the southeast part of the city for her father’s work. Harriet attended Washington H.S. and graduated in 1948. As a young adult she was employed with the Safeway stores as a clerk at the Lloyd district store. For enjoyment she involved herself in league bowling and as a skater with the dance roller skating shows and competitions that were popular at that time and competed in the nationals in 1954. In 1958 she met Harvey (Jim) Jorgensen, a widower with a young son, at a Safeway bowling league event and they married on May 23, 1959. They lived for a few years on southeast Flavel St. where to her stepson James they soon added son Jeff and daughter Judi. In 1964 they moved the family to the outskirts of Gladstone where they had built a new home on a hillside with a view and a large yard for gardening. Always interested in being active in community affairs, she involved herself in the youth and school related organizations like the Cub Scouts and the PTA while working in various home sales companies. After the kids were out of the house she involved herself in the Westwood Gardening Club, Clackamas County Historical Society, The End of the Trail Museum, Clackamas County Arts Council, and the Chautauqua Festival in Gladstone. She was named Clackamas Co. Woman of the Year by The Review in 1988 and then worked for years at The Review. Interested in politics, she was active in the Oregon Republican Party and served as a county campaign manager at one time. For her own recreation she involved herself in league bowling and a Bunco game club. In 2001 her husband Jim passed away and shortly after she sold the family house to son Jeff and took up residence at The Springs adult living center while the home was remodeled. Months after, she returned to live with her son and family. During this time she fellowshipped regularly with the Gladstone Community Church. In 2009 she moved to assisted living at the Royalton on King Road in Milwaukie and then in 2011 she moved for the last time to the Gillman Park facility in upper Oregon City. Harriet passed away quietly in her sleep November 27, 2013. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oregon Humane Society. Service Information