[1] In 1935, Harless joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in Hollywood, California, working both as a model and in the public relations department.
In addition to her work in advertising, Harless wrote the syndicated columns Selective Tuning (under the name pen name Jean Abbey) and At Random on the Washington, D.C. social scene and women's fashion.
[1] In 1950, she resigned from her position as public relations director for KPHO-TV in Phoenix to help her husband with his campaign to be the Democratic nominee for governor.
[2] In 1949, Harless and Ellsworth M. Statler bought a 504-acre thoroughbred horse ranch from Louis B. Mayer for $1 million.
She later served as national vice president of the Salvation Army and worked with several other charitable organizations and local community efforts until her death on June 19, 1996, at the age of 86.[where?]