Anita M. Harris

Anita Martha Tiboft Harris, 84, passed peacefully on August 14th after a long illness. She was born February 20, 1931 in Konigsberg, East Prussia, Germany where she grew up. She was the daughter of Fritz and Fridericke Tiboft. She and her family faced very difficult circumstances during World War II and afterwards under the Russian occupation. Thankfully, they were later relocated to Esslingen, Germany in the Stuttgart area after the war. It was there that she met the love of her life, a member of the U.S. Army named Doyle Harris. They were married for 55 wonderful years, raising their two children, Peter and Patricia, and experiencing many travels and tours of duty together. Her husband’s military career enabled them to live in many interesting places including Alaska, Colorado, Alabama, and Georgia and eventually took them back to Germany. She was employed for many years by the Military Exchange as well by several civilian retail venues. Anita was a multi-talented person, excelling as a seamstress and in other interests including ceramics, gardening, flower arrangement and interior decorating. She gave back to her community as well, volunteering with the military community as a member of the 3rd Infantry Division Volunteer Corps at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah Georgia, receiving numerous certificates of recognition for her many years of work with the Thrift Shop, including the Commanding General’s Pot of Gold Award. She was an active member of White Bluff Methodist Church in Savannah, Georgia where she also gave her time and talents. Anita attended Christ’s Church Mandarin in Jacksonville. With a strong faith in God, she loved her special Bible which was crammed full of keepsakes from her precious kids, grandkids, and great grandson William. Having endured hardships herself, she had a tender heart for those in need and was very generous. She contributed to various causes to help the less fortunate, including her numerous feline friends. Her home was a haven for a number of very happy cats over the years, many of whom she and her husband rescued. Anita’s family came first in her life. Known as Omi to most everyone, her home was a welcoming place for visiting kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids over the years. She especially liked to prepare for the Christmas Holidays, creating an atmosphere of warmth and fellowship to all who dropped by her home. She was already prepared for the next Christmas early, having purchased or made that special gift for each family member by August as she eagerly anticipated the family gathering in December. She was preceded in death by her husband Doyle Harris, her daughter, Patricia Ann Harris; son-in-law-Steve Harris; and grandson, Daniel Peter Harris. Surviving are her son, Peter Karl Harris and wife Beth of St. Augustine, FL; three grandchildren from Jacksonville: Jessica Stepaniak and her husband Alan, Kyle Harris, and Nichole Harris and her husband Bjorn Brown; great grandson William; brother Rudiger Tiboft, sister-in-law Brigette, and nephew Oliver all of Esslingen, Germany; brother Lothar Tiboft and sister-in-law, Maria, nephew, Andreas and his wife Regine; and great nephew Finn Tiboft, all of Kongen, Germany. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 4 in Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin with a reception to follow. Anita will join her late husband, Doyle, at Jacksonville National Cemetery. The family would like to thank the entire staff of Brookdale Avondale Assisted Living Facility for their excellent and loving care of Anita. They provided a welcoming home for her where she spent a happy period during her last few months. The care provided by Community Hospice was also warm and wonderful. Memorial Contributions may be sent to Christ’s Church, 6045 Greenland Rd. Jacksonville, FL 32258 or Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, 4266 Sunbeam Rd. Jacksonville, FL 32257.