Barbara Lee Harris, 86, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 25 with family by her side. Barbara was born to Lee and Harriet Pursell on September 21, 1933 and was a life-long resident of the Yakima Valley. She graduated from Yakima High School in 1952. She married Robert Bruce Harris at St. Paul’s Cathedral on April 18, 1953. They enjoyed 66 years of a loving and joyful marriage, working side by to side to develop one of the larger farming operations in the area while raising nine loving children.
Barbara’s whole life was dedicated to loving and serving the Lord. She was a devoted member of Holy Family Parish and she enthusiastically gave her time, talent and treasure to the church and to her children’s elementary and high schools.
Barbara was very artistic and lent her talents to many organizations and friends. She designed and painted the “Egg Man” that for many years marked the entrance to Harris Farms on Englewood. She created the Snoboy logo for Pacific Fruit & Produce Company and the logos for the Western Sweet Cherry Group.
But of all her accomplishments her greatest was her love of children. While raising her own family, she and Bob welcomed into their home 27 newborn foster babies and cared for them until their adoptions. Bob always told Barbara that God made special people to take care of children and she was one of them. With so many children there was never a quiet moment. Her door was always open to their many friends, who never left without one of “Barb’s Best” chocolate chip cookies.
She is survived by her loving husband, Bob, their children: Jody (Wayne) Burns of Bellevue, Kathy (Sam) Weaver of Yakima, Terry Harris of Seattle, Jim (Dianne) Harris of Yakima, Linda (Scott) Morse of Yakima, Laura (Bill) Harris of Selah, Patrick (Erin) Harris of Helena, Montana, John (Sara) Harris of Yakima, and Mark “Bubba” Harris of Seattle, 22 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
A Vigil service will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church on Monday, November 4, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Family Catholic Church on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at 10:20 a.m. with a committal service following at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum. A luncheon will immediately follow the committal in the Father Murtagh Gathering Hall at Holy Family.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude’s, The Shriners Hospital, Rod’s House, Children’s Village, or an organization of your choice devoted to children.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may shared at www.keithandkeith.com.
