Marjorie Lorene Harris, 84, died April 20, 2009 at Crestfield Rehabilitation-Fenwood Manor in Manchester, Conn.
She was born Aug. 23, 1924 at Belva, Okla., the daughter of Holden B. and Margaret Iris (Gillespie) Conner.
The Conner family moved to Chester, Okla., and she attended Seiling Schools, where she graduated as valedictorian of the class of 1943. She completed Enid Business College and then moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation classifying fingerprints.
The future Mrs. Harris enlisted in the United States Navy and served her country from 1945 to 1948, receiving her honorable discharge. She returned to Oklahoma where she married Paul Harvey Harris on Nov. 25, 1949 in Sharon, Okla. They farmed in Woodward County until 1952 when they moved to California.
In 1953, the Harrises moved to Sweet Home, settling in Holley, raising their family and living there for 45 years. Mrs. Harris was a wife, mother and a dedicated member of the Holley Christian Church. She raised five boys: Billy Dean, Donald Lee, Robert Everett, Leslie Paul and Gary Lynn, and a daughter, Paula Kathleen.
Following their retirement, the Harrises returned to Oklahoma in 1998 and settled in the Vici Oklahoma community, where Mrs. Harris was an active member of the First Christian Church of Vici, as well as the Vici Senior Citizens Center. Marjorie was an avid quilter, enjoyed crocheting, knitting gardening and birds. Paul preceded her in death May 14, 2003 and she continued to make her home in Vici until moving to Manchester, Conn., to live with her daughter Paula in July 2008.
Mrs. Harris is survived by two step-sons, Donald Harris and wife Nedra of Lebanon and Robert Harris and wife Linda of Crawfordville; two sons, Leslie Harris and daughter-in-law Mary of Albury, New South Wales, Australia, and Gary Harris and daughter-in-law Louise of Greer, S.C.; a daughter, Paula Moeremans and son-in-law Raul of Manchester, Conn.; 11 grandchildren; many great grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Sites and brother-in-law Bill of Sulphur, Okla., and Roseanna Langston and brother-in-law Gary of Woodward Okla.; three brothers, Lyle Conner and sister-in-law Virginia of Clinton, Okla., Doyle Conner and sister-in-law Joan of Longview, Wash., and Loren Conner and wife Norene of Soap Lake, Wash.; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband; an infant daughter, Debra Sue; stepson Billy Dean’ and one brother, Donald Conner.
Memorial contributions in Marjorie Harris’ name may be made to either The First Christian Church of Vici, W 5th St, Vici, OK 73859 or South Side Church of Christ, 196 Airport Road, Lebanon, OR 97355