Jeannine McCormack

Jeannine (Harvey) McCormack, age 86, of Fort Collins, Colorado, passed away on December 10, 2025, in Fort Collins. She was born August 3, 1939, in McPherson, Kansas, to Albert Miner Harvey and Mary Lee (Huff) Harvey.

Jeannine spent her childhood and formative years in Kansas. From an early age, she displayed the qualities that would define her life: being avant-garde, driven, and fearless, with a spirited determination that never left her. She was a young, accomplished violinist and grew up under the influence of parents who valued education, discipline, and community involvement.

Her father, Albert, was a mechanical engineer at Ottawa Steel and previously worked as a mortician and funeral home director in Kansas during World War II. Her mother, Mary Lee, was a fourth-grade teacher and activist; involved in her church and the Kansas National Education Association (KNEA). Together, they later developed an independent senior living community in Ottawa, now known as Park Place Senior Village.

At just sixteen years old, Jeannine traveled from Ottawa, Kansas to Grand Lake, Colorado, where she worked as a waitress at the Corner Cupboard. That summer left a lifelong imprint on her that sparked an enduring love for Colorado. She went on to attend Colorado Women's College Most of her life, she lived in the mid-west, Colorado, Kansas, and Illinois. She returned to Ft. Collins, Colorado in 1998, where she resided for the last 27 years of her life.

In 1957, Jeannine married Rimon Massad. After their divorce, she returned to Colorado, settling in Denver, where she completed secretarial training and worked in a law office. In 1961 she married Robert (Bob) McCormack, they divorced in 1976. Jeannine had three children: Susan, John, and Becci.

Throughout her working life, Jeannine served as an executive administrator for various organizations. Most notably: Avon, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

Development (HUD), Colorado Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and Colorado State University (CSU). Known for her meticulous attention to detail, quick short-hand, dictation skills, typing accuracy and speed along with her tenacious work ethic, she brought organization and timeliness to everything she did.

Jeannine was a woman of deep convictions. She loved fiercely, advocated passionately, and consistently aligned herself with the underdog. She was generous to a fault-opening her home, her resources, and her heart to people in need. She was vivacious, bold, and outspoken. Unafraid to challenge the status quo. Throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s -long before social justice, equity, and the empowerment of women were a part of the public conversation, she advocated for change. She lived with vision, style, and courage that often put her ahead of her time.

Raised as a Southern Baptist, she found a renewed Pentecostal faith in mid-life and attended the Foursquare church of Newton, KS. Her faith became an important anchor, and she attended various churches, Bible studies, and volunteered her time to help those in need wherever she lived. Those who knew her understood both her strength and passion, which was exhibited in her blunt honesty and keen discernment.

Jeannine is survived by her daughters, Susan and Becci; her sister, Susan Haverty; and two grandsons; William, Justin and his family. Family and friends were shaped by her generosity, resilience, and unmistakable presence. She was preceded in death by her son John in 2000, and her parents, Albert and Mary Lee Harvey in the 90s.

She worked hard all her life, spoke plainly, loved words, and never stopped demanding justice and inclusion. She is remembered as a strong-spirited woman who gave deeply out of nothing.

A celebration of Jeannine's life will be held at 815 Centre Ave. Ft. Collins, CO 80526, on February 20th, 2026, at 2 P.M. MT. Please contact Becci McCormack at 720-299-2100, if you'd like to attend.