Narrative Summary
Interview with Jean Harrison by Sherri Harrison
Jean Harrison was born in Missouri in 1922 to R. and M. Smallwood. She grew up in
Missouri and in Kansas for a time, but she later established roots in the Ozarks. At 19 she moved
to Missouri because she was hired as a secretary at nearby Fort Leonard Wood. She later held
other positions at Fort Leonard Wood. Jean has lived in Missouri most of her life. She has
traveled vastly, and at least three of the places to which she has traveled more than once have
great meaning for her religious life. These sacred places include Rome, Italy where she visited
Vatican City; Lourdes, France, to see the Joan of Arc memorial; and Medjugorje, Yugoslavia, to
see the place where the Blessed Virgin Mary has appeared to people over the past 27 years.
Through her strong connection and devotion to Catholicism, Jean has played a big role in
her community and church, as she still does today. She has been involved in the Catholic Church
all her life, and she still remembers her first Holy Communion and first confession. Catholicism
was an important part of her life as a child. In the interview, Jean shared her experience of
getting lost as a little girl about seven or eight years old. She remembered saying her Hail Marys
to the Blessed Virgin, asking St. Mary to watch over her and keep her safe. Jean said that while
she was lost she did not cry because she was too busy praying.
In her adult years, Jean was involved in several religious organizations. One organization
was made up of a group of women from four different churches who met regularly. One of these
churches was the local Catholic Church, St. Francis de Sales. The other churches were Protestant
churches, one of them being the First Christian Church. Jean was the secretary in this women’s
organization for some time. She was also a part of a prayer group at St. Francis de Sales,
eventually heading this prayer group for approximately 15 years. One time, the nun who was at
Jean’s church hurt her leg and could not get up on the altar to do the readings, so she assigned
Missouri State University
Fall 2008
Religious Lives of Ozarks Women
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Jean to do the reading. Ever since, when help has been needed, Jean has done the readings for
her church. In fact, for several years, she has done the readings for her church for one month out
of the year. Something that she has really enjoyed over the years is attending religious
conventions with friends, whether the events were for Catholics only or for Protestants as well.
Two conventions that were greatly discussed in the interview were the King’s House Retreat and
Renewal Center in Illinois and Caritas of Birmingham in Alabama.
Jean has been very generous by giving donations to various religious organizations; for
example, she donates money to help support boys in Africa who are being trained to become
priests. I know from our previous conversations that she donates money to many other
organizations, but these were not covered in this interview. She also helps out with many
programs at her church, and I have heard some of her friends call her St. Jean for it, though she
would be too humble to admit it. In closing the interview, Jean said she wished all her children
were back in the Catholic Church, but she said as long as they were in another good church that
follows the Lord Jesus, it was okay. Jean also said she did not think people could tell others what
church to attend because people are privileged to have their own faith and church. She believes
people can learn much from every faith.
Missouri State University
Fall 2008
Religious Lives of Ozarks Women