Ann Harbour

Ann Harbour of Fort Collins passed away suddenly on June 28, 2019.

Ann was an artist, editor, writer, webmaster, and active fan of the local jazz and theater community. Smart, helpful, and unflaggingly cheerful, she was a friend to all.

She was born in 1935 in Wichita Falls, Texas to Marguerite and Arch Harbour. As a child, her doting mother tried to fit her into the role of Southern Belle, which anyone who knew Ann knows was very much Not Her. Fortunately her mother backed off soon after Ann developed her life-long devotion to wearing slacks and reading books. The family moved to Kerrville, Texas in 1941.

Ann attended Saint Mary's Hall in San Antonio, and Radcliffe College (in those antiquated days, before it merged with Harvard University). When met a handsome young U.S. Army officer named Tom Van Natta Jr., they got married in a fever... er, in grand style in 1954.

Ann's two children, Carol Van Natta and Tom Van Natta III, were born shortly thereafter, on Army bases, but the isolated life of a military wife was not for Ann, and she moved back to Texas with her two children. She married twice after that, but neither lasted. Soon she moved to Colorado, where she lived for the past 30 years.

In Fort Collins, Ann was semi-famous for her encyclopedic knowledge of jazz and tunes from the 20th century, and support (and webmastering) of the local jazz bands websites. She also designed logos for a variety of businesses and nonprofit organizations in Northern Colorado, created album covers for bands, and designed posters for many events. In addition, she was a noted author and editor of various books and professional papers.

Ann's quick wit and encouraging laughter will be remembered for years to come. She has donated her body to science. In the fall, we will have a party (with music, of course) to celebrate her life.