John Raymond Harkness passed away early Friday morning, November 26, 2021 in Round Rock, Texas. He had been battling pneumonia brought on by the COVID-19 virus. He was 58 years old.

He was born December 15, 1962 in Los Angeles, CA to Bruce Harkness and Bruce’s first wife, Beverly Carlstrom.  They lived in Los Angeles where John began school at Melrose Avenue Elementary. He went on to John H. Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley.

From his father, John inherited a love of auto racing, especially Formula One. John would often volunteer to work as a security officer for various auto races in Southern California. This gave him access to all areas of the racing facilities, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He also cherished the many camping and off-roading trips with his Dad and stepmom Alice to Glamis Dunes and Ocotillo Wells. He fondly recounted stories of these adventures.

After coming to a belief in Jesus Christ, John was baptized as a Christian in the backyard swimming pool of a fellow congregant of Harvest Community Church in Palmdale in the summer of 1995.

That fall, John married Brenda Giles in Lancaster, CA. As his family began to grow, John returned to school. He graduated summa cum laude with Honors in Philosophy at California State University, Northridge in 2006. The Honors Convocation and the graduation ceremony marked a major milestone in John’s adult life. Education was very important to him. He and Brenda worked together to home school their three children.

John liked to help others. He retired from his position in Welfare Eligibility with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Service in 2012. Two years later, he and his family moved to Jarrell, Texas, on a job transfer for his wife,  Brenda.

He loved to cook and he studied the history of food and methods of cooking within various cultures. John became a highly skilled “pitmaster,” smoking meats with his son Richard in the backyard. Being a very private person, he shied away from competitive barbecue contests. He preferred to offer his best works to his family at home.

John was a voracious reader. He also enjoyed listening to podcasts on a variety of topics, ranging from history and religion to politics and social commentary. He loved technology and he kept current on innovations in phones, computers and even video games with the kids. He even had a Bluetooth barbecue thermometer app in his phone to help with the backyard smoker sessions.

He was recently preceded in death by his mother Beverly Gray in July, 2021. John is survived by his dearly loved parents Bruce and Alice Harkness of West Chester, PA, his beloved aunt Rose Carlstrom of North Hollywood, his uncle Brent Harkness of Chandler, AZ, his sisters Jean Stanwood (Mike) of Canoga Park, CA, and Cheryl Gray Mitchell (Elliot) of Westtown, PA. Also surviving are John’s adult children: Shelby, Richard and Lorna Harkness and his loving wife Brenda of Jarrell, TX. 

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