Jane Ellen (Clem) Harden Obit

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Jane Ellen (Clem) Harden
Dec 23, 1941 - Apr 22, 2026
Posted by Jo Aguirre

Jane Ellen (Clem) Harden was born on December 23, 1941 in Trail, Oklahoma to Phillip Nofsker Clem and Maggie Ellis (Laws) Clem. She passed away on April 22, 2026 in Elk City, Oklahoma.

She attended 1st–5th grade at Trail Elementary School where her mother was the teacher. She attended 6th–12th grade at Camargo Schools, graduating in 1959. Jane continued her education by attending Southwestern Oklahoma State University and received degrees in Home Economics and Elementary Education. She also received her Remedial Reading Specialist degree (one of the first in the state). She didn’t stop there and attended Oklahoma University and received two master’s degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education.

Jane loved being a teacher and started her career at Camargo, teaching for two years. She then taught at Vici, Oklahoma for one year. Canute, Oklahoma was her next stop for eight years when she started their Remedial Reading Program. She finished her career at Hammon Public Schools where she retired in 2006. Between teaching at Canute and Hammon she spent several years helping her dear friend Jeanelda Smith care for and teach her special needs daughter, Shelly Smith. She dedicated many hours and miles taking Shelly to specialist appointments and therapy sessions.

Jane spent many hours decorating her room for holidays and dressing up for school events. She took her kids on many field trips and educational adventures.

Jane married Wesley Eugene Harden “Bigman” on August 31, 1960 at his parents’ home in Hammon, Oklahoma. They resided in the town of Hammon until they built their new home on the farm west of Hammon where they continued to live. To this union two children were born, Freddie Joe Harden and Marlo Chantel Harden.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at Community Fellowship Church, Hammon, Oklahoma. Dolan Ivey will officiate.

Interment will be at Red Hill Cemetery, Hammon, Oklahoma. Services have been entrusted to the care of Richard and Tammy Dugger and the staff of Martin‑Dugger Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Elk City, Oklahoma.

She is survived by her husband, Bigman of the home. Her son, Freddie Harden and wife, Carolyn of Hammon, Oklahoma. Daughter, Chantel Harden of Elk City, Oklahoma. Grandchildren, Brooke Biggs and husband, Dylan of Yukon, Oklahoma, Payton Fish and Tiffany Otto of Elk City, Oklahoma, Weston Fish and Emiley Mathes of Elk City, Oklahoma, Braxton Fish of Elk City, Oklahoma, Nathan Willis and Racheal Wing of Elk City, Oklahoma, Chris Morgan of Hydro, Oklahoma, Tammy Goff and husband, Jason of Hammon, Oklahoma, Jason Morgan of Sayre, Oklahoma. Thirteen great‑grandchildren, Bennie, Alison, Wrenlynn, Tyler, Kaitlyn, Trevor, Lexi, Dalton, Dakota, Dylon, Devin, Ty and Jevon; and six great‑great‑grandchildren. Twin sister, June Lovelace. Sisters‑in‑law, Lois Lovelace and Annetta Harden.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Phillip and Maggie Clem. Sister, Ramona Warren. Brothers‑in‑law, Clifford Warren, Karl Lovelace and Keith Lovelace. Mother and father‑in‑law, Wes and Marie Harden.

Memorials can be made to Red Hill Cemetery Association, Hammon, Oklahoma, in care of Martin‑Dugger Funeral Home and Cremation Services, P.O. Box 707, Elk City, Oklahoma 73648.

We invite you to leave a message of condolence, expression of sympathy or perhaps share a memory of Jane at www.martin‑duggerfuneralhome.com.

Services were held Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at Community Fellowship Church in Hammon, Oklahoma.

Burial followed at Red Hill Cemetery under the direction of Martin‑Dugger Funeral Home, Elk City, Oklahoma.

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