Clarence Jay (Joe) Harrington, 76, passed away at his home December 24, 2017 after a two year battle with end stage kidney disease. Joe was born in Anaconda Montana on March 24, 1941 to Clarence and Julia Harrington. He grew up on Birch St. and worked a number of jobs to help support the family. After graduating from Anaconda Central High School in 1959, he spent the next four years as a medic in the U.S. Airforce. He met Phyllis Ereaux, a nurse at Columbus Hospital, they married 1962 and over the next 4 years welcomed 4 children. Joe received a BA in Social Services from the University of Montana in 1968, and his MSW from the Graduate School of Social Work, University of Utah in 1970. His professional career was spent as a clinician or administrator at Mental Health facilities in Great Falls, MT, Salt Lake City and Oregon. In 1975 the family moved to Helena where Joe was Director of the Southwest Mental Health Center and eventually opened a private practice. He had a special interest in Family Therapy and working with Vietnam veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Joe is survived by his 4 children Joseph, John (Jasyn), Lynn (Kevin) Berens, and Julie (Doug) Fraley; grandchildren Kaity and Kyle Harrington, Erika and Lyndsie Berens, Dillon, Madison, Abbie, and Brooke Fraley; sister Nadine McCurdy; former wife Phyllis Harrington; and several nephews and nieces.
Joe is preceded in death by his parents, infant sister Rose Kathleen Harrington, and half-brothers Willis and LeLand Nyhart.
Per his wishes, cremation has taken place and a military service and burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday May 18th at the Veterans Cemetery Fort Harrison. Donations in his memory are suggested to Montana Veterans Support Foundation, or the Dialysis Unit at St Peters Hospital.
Service Schedule
Graveside Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday May 18, 2018
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Heroes Rd.
Helena, MT 59601
Service Schedule
Graveside Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday May 18, 2018
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Heroes Rd.
Helena, MT 59601
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carol hollow says
Dear John,
I am so sorry to learn of your Father’s passing. My heart felt condolences to you and your family.
Carol Hollow
Joe Connors says
John, Joe, Lynn, Julie, and Nadine: I learned of my longtime friend’s death from Nadine who called my sister in law, Pat Peterson of Helena. I later called Nadine and talked with her. She has helped me understand ALZ which my wife is now experiencing. I am so sorry to learn of Joe’s passing that I can hardly believe he is gone. We grew up on birch street, attended St. Peter’s grade school , Anaconda Central together. We were also at the U of M at the same time for a short time. I was in law school and he was extending his education. I remember all 4 of you as children but we didn’t get to know you as well as I would have liked. I tried to visit your dad within the last year but he told Nadine he was too sick to have visitors. We played alot of basketball together over the years and won the 5th, 6th, and 8th grade championship. In one of those years we were behind by 2 pts with only seconds to go . Joe sank 2 free throws to tie the game and we went on to win. See you all in the spring. Joe Connors
Bill Haffey says
Clarence and I worked at Anaconda Central together. He set a great example of hard work and was always kind and helpful to me. I have thought of him often. He was a really important part of our high school years.
Doris Namba says
I am so sorry to hear of Clarence’s death. We were close friends in high school, and we reconnected when my Mother moved to Helena. We visited often by phone and once when he came to Salt Lake for a visit at the VA Hospital. He and you, Nadine, attended my Mother’s funeral in Anaconda, which I truly appreciated!! I will keep him in my prayers and thoughts and hope to attend the spring service. Again, I’m so sorry, he was much too young to leave us!! Doris Namba