Barbara Ann Harris

Barbara Ann Harris, age 77, passed away Monday, February 19, 2024. She was born October 21, 1946 in Oklahoma City to Dean and Marie (Whitehurst) Johnson. In 1950, her family moved to Hawaii where she graduated from Kalani High School in 1964. She went on to attend Oklahoma State University from 1964-1966 and received her MRS in December of 1966. In 1966 she married Marc Harris while he received his BS Degree in Forestry in 1967. They lived in Oregon, Wyoming, Oklahoma, California, and Texas as Marc moved up the career ladder. In 1968, Barbara started her career with the Soil Conservation Service in Talequah, Oklahoma. In 1969 she joined the Selective Service System in Oklahoma City. From 1971-1978 she was transferred to the Small Business Administration in Oklahoma City. In 1978 she worked for the USDA Forest Service, Inyo National Forest in Lee Vining, California. From 1989-1997 she was with the National Forest and Grassland of Texas, Sabine National Forest in San Augustine, Texas. She then retired and returned to Warr Acres. Barbara was very involved in her community as a member of the 50th Anniversary Committee, the Christmas Committee, and the Budget Committee. She also stayed active with the Forest Service Incident Command System: 1997-2005, Single Resource, 2006-2009, Central Western Zone of Arizona, and 2010-2017, Rocky Mountain Type 2 Team of South Dakota. Barbara was very creative and loved working with her hands, greatly enjoying any kind of carpentry project. She was known for her amazing gingerbread cities and her detailed pumpkin carving, which was a huge hit every Halloween. Barbara loved her nieces and nephews like they were her own children. She enjoyed every moment of their lives and was also their biggest supporter. Barbara had a very close group of friends that were part of a recycling committee called “Trashy Friends”. She was a wonderful storyteller, an excellent listener and advice giver, and had a witty and fun sense of humor.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Marc Harris (2010); and brother, Dean Johnson.

She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Doug and Misty, Darin and Manuel, Rad and Nadine, Reza and Amber, and Lelia; as well as numerous great nieces and nephews, other family, and friends.

Services will be 2pm Monday, February 26, 2024 at Bill Merritt Funeral Service with interment to follow at Rose Hill Burial Park.