Gloria Harmon

Gloria Jean Harmon was born on October 31, 1948 in Brooklyn, New York to Frank Baranoski and Marie Rakoczy. On April 1, 2023, she gained her wings and joined the Lord in heaven. Gloria was such a sweet soul. Her brother, Frank, said she was “bubbly in life.” That is the perfect definition of Gloria. She was a strong fighter all the way to the end of her life.  She never complained about being in pain or uncomfortable. She just played the cards that life handed her.

In 1960, Gloria’s family moved to New Milford, New Jersey.  There, she studied two years of fine arts in community college. She met and married Michel Ortiz. Together, they had two children, Michelle, and Michael.  While residing in New Jersey, Gloria worked in a variety of jobs. Her marriage to Michael came to an end in the late 1970s. In the early 1980s, she moved to Texas with her second husband, Bill Wright, and friends Gary and Dawn Tarantino. Bill and Gary were following a job that was in Texas.  Although that marriage did not last very long, Gloria decided to stay in Texas.  On August 27, 1994, she married her current husband, Stanley Harmon.  They reside in Waxahachie, TX. Gloria is a member of God’s House in Lone Elm and has many friends who loved her greatly. If you knew Gloria, you knew she had a love for her crime shows, Fox News, the Wheel of Fortune, and she loved to watch the Dallas Cowboys.  She enjoyed working in her garden and flower beds.  Gloria had a green thumb and her vegetables were often sold at the farmer’s market.  She always had the prettiest flower beds. Stan and Gloria had a kite store they started together. They used to love going to and hosting kite flying events and festivals.  Her nickname was “Mawkite” or “Kite Lady”. Gloria took her love of kites to church with her.  She would have a booth at church events and help all the children with their kites. Stan and Gloria are both dog lovers and have owned many pets together over the years.

She is preceded in death by: her parents, Frank and Marie Baranoski and her sister Pearl Baranoski.  She is survived by: her husband of almost 29 years, Stanley Harmon, her daughter, Michelle Abbott, and her son, Michael Ortiz, step-daughter, Melissa Ford, step-son Stephen Harmon, and brothers Frank and Alan Baronoski. She has lots of grandchildren between her children and her stepchildren, even has a few great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.  Thank you to Baylor Scott & White of Waxahachie for providing the absolute best care Gloria could have received.

Gloria’s wishes were to be cremated. Her memorial service will be at her church and her ashes will be buried just below the surface of the ground so that wildflowers will still grow around her. She would have loved that. After the service, there will be a meal provided by the church and we will all fly a kite to honor her love for kites and her life.  In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to God’s House in Lone Elm.  They have been a wonderful church family to Gloria over the years.

Memorial Service will be:

Sunday, April 30th, 2023 at 2pm.

God’s House on Lone Elm

150 Lone Elm Rd. Waxahachie, TX 75167

Ashes Burial will be on the church grounds.