Ora Mae Harn, the "Matriarch of Marana," died Wednesday night. She was 77.
Harn, who succumbed to cancer, served on the Marana Town Council from 1985 to 2001 and twice was elected mayor. A park is named in her honor.
"Marana has lost one of its truly remarkable citizens," Mayor Ed Honea said in a press release issued by the town. "I have known Ora for practically the whole time she has been in Marana and I can honestly say that she improved the lives of everyone who lives here."
A visitation is planned from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 6 and 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 7 at the town's municipal complex, 11555 W. Civic Center Drive. A 2 p.m. service will follow the Aug. 7 visitation at Faith Community Church, 2551 W. Orange Grove Road. The visitations and the service are open to the public.
Harn was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry. She is survived by their three children.
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Harn, the town's only female mayor and a founding member of the Marana Rotary Club, moved to Southern Arizona with her family in 1961. Before taking her place in town government, she drove a school bus for the Marana Unified School District and worked in a school cafeteria.
She was a founder and director of the Marana Health Center and was instrumental in the formation of the Marana Community Food Bank. She served as president of the Arizona Women in Municipal Government and was a representative to the Pima Association of Governments.
"She's been an integral part of almost everything we've done around here," Honea said recently.
Harn's last project was the development of the Marana Heritage Conservancy, designed to preserve the town's history.
"Ora is one of those rare individuals in a community's history that had a vision and then she followed it up with action," said Gilbert Davidson, Marana's town manager.
Contact reporter Kimberly Matas at kmatas@azstarnet.com or at 573-4191.
