Leslie Anita Harlor, 73
Dateline: Mansfield, MA
Leslie Anita (Johnson) Harlor, age 73, of Mansfield, passed peacefully on Sunday, May 15, 2022 at the Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln, MA with her family by her side.
Married nearly 53 years, she was the wife of Lyle S. Harlor of Mansfield, who she married on October 18, 1969. Leslie was born in Attleboro on March 8, 1949, and was the daughter of the late Lester E. and Anita E. (Fornaciari) Johnson of Mansfield.
Leslie is survived by her husband, Lyle, and children, Amy (Harlor) Tomlins and her fiancée Chris Charos of North Hampton, NH; and Adam Harlor and his wife Kathleen, of Topsfield, and by her grandchildren, Jacob and Colby Tomlins; Justin, Gavin, and Nolan Harlor; and Hailey Charos. She was the daughter-in-law of the late Bill & Eleanor Harlor of Mansfield, sister-in-law to Bill & Mary Ann Harlor of Mansfield, the late Dr. E. Joan Holliday of Mansfield, and the late Jon & Hedy Harlor of Cape Cod. Leslie is also survived by two nephews and a niece, several cousins she considered her siblings, an aunt, and several long-time friends.
Leslie graduated from Mansfield High School in 1967 and attended Northhampton Commercial College and Bryant & Stratton College. At age 50, Leslie had a desire to get her bachelor’s degree and went on to graduate from Emmanuel College in 2003, while working full-time.
Leslie began her career at Texas Instruments in 1969, and then took some time off to raise her children. After they were in school, she returned to work full-time at Wheaton College in 1982. She moved on to Nissan and subsequently Toyota, from which she retired in 2009. For the last several years, she worked part-time for the Animal Health Center in Plainville which perpetuated her love for animals.
Among the many things she got from her parents, a love of animals from her father and a love of cooking from her mother were her two biggest adorations. Leslie served as a volunteer at the Mansfield Animal Shelter from 1994 - 2021. During her time at the shelter, she adopted two cats, fostered a few more, and rehomed many to her children and friends.
Her love of cooking came from her Italian mom and aunts, who rarely wrote down or followed a written recipe. Leslie learned to cook by watching her family and excelled at the craft. One of her favorite things to do was to cook and feed people, and with five grandsons, she had a slew of willing participants. Perhaps her most extraordinary talent, though, was knitting. She had an incredible knack for baby outfits and Christmas stockings. The greatest gifts to give our friends and family were her handmade sweaters and blankets.
Leslie’s most favorite thing to do was laugh – and she did, a lot. She had an infectious smile and was one of the kindest people you’d ever meet. She had an aptitude for turning co-workers into friends, and friends into family. She was blessed with a great number of friends and family who adored her, perhaps because she was always in a good mood!
The Harlor family would like to thank the medical staff at Beth Israel, especially those on the 11th floor of the Farr Building, and at Mass General, particularly those who work on Lunder 8, for their unwavering drive to solve Leslie’s illness, and for the kindness they showed Leslie and our whole family. A special thank you goes to Dr. David August for his incredible compassion and advice, and to Joan Kelley, for being not only a nurse but also a “sister.”
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend visiting hours on Saturday, May 21st from 9:00-11:00 A.M. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main Street, Mansfield.
Her funeral service will be held at the conclusion of visiting hours on Saturday at 11:00 A.M. in the funeral home. Burial will follow at the Spring Brook Cemetery in Mansfield.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider donating to the Mansfield Animal Shelter in honor of Leslie. Donations can be dropped off or mailed to the shelter at: Mansfield Shelter Friends, Inc., P.O. Box 25, Mansfield, MA 02048.
To send her family a message of condolence, please visit www.shermanjackson.com