Harbison

Marilyn G. (Johnson) Harbison, 81, of Middlesex Township, a much loved mother and grandmother, died unexpectedly of natural causes Tuesday afternoon at her home.

She was born July 7, 1927, in Chicago. Ill., to the late Arthur Johnson and Gerda V. (Thorne) Johnson. She was proud of her Swedish heritage and appreciated the strength and perseverance her parents displayed immigrating to this country.

She was a talented artist and prolific poet. She loved nature and often photographed and wrote about the beauty of Pennsylvania and northern Michigan.

Marilyn was an ardent advocate of environmental causes and had volunteered in public schools to inform and inspire others to take action on those issues.

She also was a strong and outspoken voice for women and instrumental in raising the awareness that young women should have the opportunity to participate in sports programs prior to the development and implementation of the Title IX initiatives.

An effective communicator, she reached out to others in her letter writing and faith-based donations.

Surviving are her longtime friend and companion, Mike Dyk; her daughters, Jody Harbison of Butler and Suzanne and her husband, Terry, Newhart, of Easton, Pa.; her sons, Arthur C. and his wife, Sherry, Harbison of Austin, Texas, Robert T. and his wife, Jo, Harbison of Ligonier, Paul and his wife, Ginger, Harbison of Renfrew and John and his wife, Dolores, Harbison of South Brunswick, N.J.; 17 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Robert Harbison; and his half-sisters, Shirley McGuire and Phyllis Earp.

<B>HARBISON</B> Visitation for Marilyn G. (Johnson) Harbison, who died Tuesday, April 21, 2009, will be from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Friday at the <B>Herbert R. King Jr. Funeral Home</B>, 2841 Woodland Circle, Allison Park, where funeral services will be at 6:30 p.m. Pastor Dan Ledford of the Westminster Presbyterian Church of America in Butler will officiate.Friends and family will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Glade Run Presbyterian Church Cemetery for a graveside committal services.The family suggests that memorial contributions be offered to Restoring Eden, P.O. Box 877, La Center, WA 98629; www.restoringeded.org Restoring Eden is a faith-based environmental advocacy organization.