Eleanor Harris

Mrs. Eleanor L. Harris was called home to be with the Lord on Thursday, July 15, after complications from a broken hip. She was born on December 4, 1924 to Frank Browning and Margaret (Smith) Browning in Gary, West Virginia.

Mrs. Harris graduated from Gary District High School in Gary, West Virginia. She was the salutatorian of her high school class and had the potential to enter and be successful in any field; however, she always wanted to “do hair.” As a result, she attended and graduated from Apex Beauty College in Richmond, Virginia.

While living in West Virginia, Mrs. Harris worked as a beautician. When she and her late husband, Mr. Roscoe Harris, moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1959, she worked as a nurse’s aide at University Hospital. She ended her career working as a Pharmacist’s Attendant at the University of Michigan Health Service, when she retired in 1977.

Mrs. Harris was a spiritual woman, full of faith, who really loved the Lord. She was a beautiful lady with a sweet spirit. She was kind, loving, compassionate, and caring. In spite of her health challenges in recent years, she always remained pleasant and the medical personnel thoroughly enjoyed having her as a patient. She truly loved her family and was responsible for getting together all of the family gatherings. She had a great sense of humor and kept people laughing.

Mrs. Harris loved working on word search puzzles. She also loved to shop, cook, entertain, and travel. In addition to visiting almost every state in this country, she has traveled to Hawaii four times, as well as cruised many islands in the Caribbean. She realized her dream of visiting Alaska four years ago. Mrs. Harris loved planning and coordinating trips. One of the highlights of her life was getting a group of ladies together to take a shopping trip to Hong Kong. She has also visited Dakar, Senegal in West Africa.

Mrs. Harris was a member of Second Baptist Church of Ann Arbor, where she was active with the Progressive Club and a counter of the offering until her health began to fail. She also sang with several Women’s Day choirs and she belonged to the former Senior Morning Choir when it existed at Second Baptist Church on Beakes Street.

Mrs. Harris was a “social butterfly.” She was a member of several organizations, such as the Golden Rule Club, the Friendship Circle, and the Gorgeous Garnets chapter of the Red Hat Society. Mrs. Harris took great pride in her appearance and was known for her stylish clothes and beautiful hats. She also loved being pampered with her manicures and pedicures.

Mrs. Harris was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Mr. Roscoe Harris; three sisters, Mrs. Alice Penn, Mrs. Virginia Smith, and Mrs. Lula Peterson; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is survived by her children - Michael (Arlene), Amelia, Sandra, Hugh (Gloria), Margaret, and Ronald (April). She is also survived by her sister, Mrs. Mary Foust of Greensboro, NC; and her grandchildren, Jerome (Rosalyn), Janessa, Troy, Nigel, Rukiya, Corenne, and Jailah. Her surviving great grandchildren are Alexis and Jasmyn. There were many special people in her life. Some of those people are her devoted niece, Mrs. Mary Smith; her former co-worker, Mrs. Gwen Chivers; a special friend, Dr. Letha Chadiha; and her former neighbor, Ms. Cathy Freeman. She was very fond of her former primary care physician, Dr. Deloisteen Brown; her nephrologist, Dr. Paul Smith, and her special nurse at Davita’s Dialysis, Mrs. Christina Corcoran. She truly loved her special caregivers through the years, who are Ms. Alice Martin, Ms. Mary Philpot, Ms. Mary Fitch, Ms. Perrelia Bouldin, Mrs. Gladys Pressley, and Mrs. Elaine Westfield. She leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends to cherish her memory.

A family hour will be held on Tuesday, July 20, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Second Baptist Church of Ann Arbor, 850 Red Oak, Ann Arbor. The Homegoing Celebration will be held on Wednesday, July 21, at 11:00 am, with a family hour beginning at 10:00 am, at Second Baptist Church of Ann Arbor, with Rev. Mark J. Lyons, officiating. Interment at United Memorial Gardens, Plymouth, MI. Arrangements entrusted to Muehlig Funeral Chapel of Ann Arbor.