Jane Beebe Harris

Carmel ~ Jane Wade Beebe Harris, age 96, departed this life on June 4 at Carmel Valley Manor. Tilly Jane (referring to a favorite family stream on the north side of Mount Hood), as she was affectionately called by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, was always positive and enthusiastic. She instilled in her family a love of music and humor.

Jane was born in Portland, OR on January 11, 1915 to Caroline Wilson Beebe and Kenneth Beebe and was a fifth-generation descendant of Captain John Heard Couch, a sea captain who determined the present site ofPortland in 1846. She attended Ainsworth School and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1933, winning the Dads' Club Service Honor Roll award that year. Jane earned an Associate’s Degree at Sarah Lawrence College and returned home to work at The Beebe Company which was founded by her grandfather and was then owned by her father and uncle.

In 1935, Jane was introduced to Lawrence W. Harris, Jr., formerly of San Francisco, who had moved to Portland to work in the family company, Ames Harris & Neville. They were married in Portland on September 2, 1939. Their first child, Lawrence III, was born in June of 1941 and was followed by Caroline, Edwin, Kenneth and Louise, all of whom were born in Portland.

Jane's family moved to San Francisco in 1955. She was active in civic organizations in that city and supported her two daughters' efforts at Santa Catalina School in Monterey. In 1960, the family moved to Boise, ID following the purchase of Ames Harris & Neville by Boise Cascade Corporation. Upon Larry's retirement from Boise Cascade, he was elected to the Idaho Legislature and served from 1976-1986. Jane assisted him as an energetic and highly respected campaigner and was an active ten-year member of the Idaho LegisLadies.

Jane was an avid skier, boater and hiker (she climbed Mount Hood) from a very young age, often accompanying her father. When Sun Valley Resort opened in 1936, Jane and her cousin, Mary Lawrence MacArthur, took the train over from Portland and, many years later, she was a founding member of the Sun Valley Reunion Ski Club reunions, serving a year as chairperson.

Jane and Larry made many European trips including several with Stanford Study cruises. In 1987, they retired to Carmel Valley, where they enjoyed 24 years with old and new friends and many visits from children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jane is survived by her husband of 71 years, Larry; children, Tige (Peggy), Caroline Henderson, Eddie, Kenneth (Carmel) and Louise (Ray); grandchildren, Wil (Cecilia) Harris, John (Rhonda) Henderson, John (Nora) Harris, Michael (Jenny) Henderson, Margaret Jane (Stephen) Taylor and Aubrey (Melanie) Harris as well as twelve great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Thomas More Church in Portland this Monday, June 11 at 1:00 PM followed by private burial. Jane requested that any memorial contributions in her memory be sent to: The Columbia River Maritime Museum, 1792 Marine Drive, Astoria OR, 97103.