Obituaries

Sara Louise Harris

Photo of Sara Louise Harris
Our loving mother and wife of Grover, Sara Louise Harris, was carried by angels to be with her Lord on Jan. 31, 2015, from the Willard Walker Hospice Home. She lived 79 remarkable, caring years, full of marriage, family, friends, career, service and worship. Her passing is a grievous loss to all who loved her, which is to say all who knew her. Our world is lessened in love, courage, strength, kindness and compassion with her departure, but it only serves to brighten her new home as her new companions rejoice at her arrival. Sara was born March 10, 1935 in Belington, W. Va. to Curtis and Madge Rhoades, the eldest of five children. Her three sisters and one brother were all part of a very close family, remaining so even today. She attended Belington High School until Aug. 31, 1951, when she married at the tender young age of 16, wedding Grover Harris Jr. The birth of the first of their three sons in June, 1952 placed her educational endeavors on hold for more than 10 years, as she gave birth to their second son in November 1954 and the third in May 1958. She lived in Morgantown, W.Va. and Montgomery, Ala., as well as Hyattsville, Md., finally settling in Fayetteville, as Grover completed his education and military service and began his career at the University of Arkansas. But as soon as her youngest was school age, Sara began working as a teacher's aid in the Fayetteville Public School system, devoting her precious spare time to continuing her education. She earned her GED and after 10 years of part time attendance, earned her undergraduate degree in education at the U of A, joining her eldest son in the graduating class of 1974. She taught first grade at Leverett Grade School until she retired, caring for each of her students with the same loving hands and heart she provided all. Her efforts might have gone unnoticed by many, but to her family, they were evidenced by the many Christmas tree ornaments from so many of them we hung on our tree each year. Sara was as an active member of the First United Presbyterian Church, a stalwart attendee on Sundays and put herself into many facets of the church's missions through her participation and leadership with her husband in Mariners, too many committees to mention, and was deeply involved in the church kitchen and its hospitality endeavors. She also served as an Elder, bringing her wisdom, experience and love for others from over 50 years as a member to her role. Such were her and her husband's contributions that, a few years ago, the Sara and Grover Harris Hospitality Endowment was created to carry their work on. And yet in the midst of her many other endeavors, Sara found time to share life, laughter and love with her friends, at The Whiskey Flats Bridge Club and many other gatherings. Often sprinkled among her friends were delicious foods, continually adding to her culinary aura, with secret recipes for lasagna, spaghetti and many other delights, once publicly when she was crowned the Queen of the Chicken Cooking Contest at the Arkansas Poultry Federation meeting one year. Even her office skills from years past were put to special use when she and Grover served as Arkansas Travellers in the White House for President Bill Clinton. Her grandchildren would say two important things….she made the most delicious chocolate chip cookies ever and knitted the most comfortable afghans known to man---each stir of the bowl a stroke of tenderness and each loop of yarn a gift of love, making sure each of them joined in the family closeness their Mim valued so much by orchestrating the Annual Beach Trip. Sara is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Grover; her siblings, Esther, Becky, Nancy and Johnny; her three sons, Curt, Kyle and Stephen and four grandchildren, Grant, Morgan, Caitlin and Nick. At her request, a family-only memorial service was held on Friday, Feb. 6. In lieu of flowers, Sara was a long-time avid supporter of the Belington Presbyterian Church Free Lunch Program, P.O. Box 5, Belington, W. Va., 26250. She spent the entirety of her life taking care of others, never asking anything for herself. It is our most fervent hope and prayer that she is now being cared for in the most loving of all manners, for all of eternity. "To live in the hearts of so many is to live everlasting"….Anon To place an online tribute, visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.

Published February 8, 2015

Upcoming Events