Sandra Diane Harris

She was born March 28, 1933, in Rockford, Illinois, to Emmett and Patricia Schaaf. Sandra moved to Colville, Wash., around age 2 and then to Coos Bay, Ore., when she was 12. She graduated in 1951 as Salutatorian from Marshfield High School in Coos Bay.

Sandra entered the nursing program at Oregon State College (OSU) in 1951 and then went on to University of Oregon Medical School (now OHSU) in Portland. She graduated from there in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and practiced as a Registered Nurse.

She married Dr. Miles Edwards on March 20, 1956, in Coos Bay. They had four children, Teresa, Randy, Leslie, and Bruce.

On June 14, 1982, she married Jim Harris and four additional children joined the family, Belinda, Katrina, Jay, and Matt.

Sandra was passionate about gardening and photography. She had a large established rhododendron garden in the Oak Grove at the Harris homestead in Oakville, Wash., loved by many to this day. Her love of photography left a legacy of wonderful memories. Her photos captured the love and strong commitment she had to her interconnected and extended family. She also was an avid reader and loved natural history. She always was up for lively debates on current events.

Sandra was a devoted partner and will be missed greatly by her husband Jim. She immensely loved her children and grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them. Sandra also was fond of animals and cared deeply for her pets.

She is preceded in death by her parents.

Sandra is survived by her husband Jim Harris, Portland; brother and sister-in-law Dan and Del Ann Schaaf, Anaheim, Calif.; sisters-in-law Helen Engle, University Place, Wash., and Anita Hawkins, Oakville. Her children Teresa (Craig) Allen, McMinnville, Ore.; Randy (Nancy) Edwards, Littleton, Colo.; Leslie (Dave) Edwards, Nevada City, Calif.; Bruce (Karen) Edwards, Portland; Belinda (Kevin) Chase, Petersburg, Alaska; Katrina (Blake) Hoffman, Kings Valley, Ore.; Jay (Laurie) Harris, Portland; Matt Harris, Vancouver, Wash. She is also survived by 19 grandchildren and extended family, along with her beloved pets Bert and Smudge.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oregon Humane Society.

A memorial service will be at a later date.