Gene Ernst Harris

She was born the youngest of six children to Julia (Elliot) and Henry Ernst, on July 5, 1930, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She grew up there and just across the border in Ringgold, Georgia. She attended Shorter College, graduated from the University of Tennessee with a teaching credential, and completed graduate work at UC Riverside.

She married B.Walton Harris of Ringgold GA, in 1950. They moved to St. Petersburg, FL, to teach. She gave birth to her first child, Liese Lorah there in 1954. From Florida, Gene and her family moved to Kassel, Germany, where her husband taught at the Military Dependents School. Gene’s father immigrated from Germany, so she was able to meet, and get to know her extended German family while she was there. Her second child, Berta Carolyn, was born in Kassel. The family of four eventually made their way to California, where her husband became a teacher in Rialto. They settled in Bloomington on five acres and had three more children Clark Ernst, Lallette Elliott, & Mary Jean.

Her home was full of music. She had a piano, small organ, autoharp, and an accordion that accompanied the family for Christmas carols and other music. She sang locally with a Barbershop quartet, the Mel-o-dears, and was active in Sweet Adelines. At Rialto United Methodist Church, she sang with, and eventually directed the adult choir, and children’s choir. In later years, until COVID, she also sang with Primetime Choraleers in San Bernardino.

In 1964, she began teaching for Colton Joint Unified School District, at Crestmore Elementary School, in Bloomington, teaching primary grades, and directing the Crestmore Choir.

After retirement, she became a Charter Member of California Retired Teacher’s Association (CRTA) Division 90. She was the first Vice-President and then served as President 1996-1998. She held all board positions at one time or another. She often lobbied in Sacramento to protect California teachers’ retirement benefits.

She was active with United Methodist Women (UMW) for years, and enjoyed activities and adventures through the Highland Senior Center.

She loved to sew, craft, crochet and fix things. She taught her children how to use creative tools of all kinds and how to take care of them.

She worked for Tony Urbano Productions, building puppets for television commercials. Some may remember puppet commercials for McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets, Coke’s Polar Bear, and others.

She was bright, curious; and enjoyed new experiences, jigsaw puzzles, Bingo; and played a killer game of Scrabble. She traveled the world, climbing mountains, exploring grand buildings, meandering cobblestone streets, hiking, camping and river rafting well into her eighties. Her biggest thrill was to see the Taj Mahal.

Her unconditional love, support, gracious humor, and intrepidness will be missed by all.

She is survived by her five children Liese Harris-Lesh (Craig) of Redlands CA, Berta Harris-Sutro (Michael Smolens) of San Diego CA, Clark Harris (Kathy) of Moreno Valley CA, Lallette Kistler (Don) of Ketchikan AK, and MaryJean Williams (Rick) of Oregon City OR; Grandchildren Taylor Williams (Claire), Tim Williams, Bryan Kistler (Natalie), Kristie Blevins (David), Michelle Serrano (Chris), Ashley Liptak (Peter), Hannah Harris-Sutro(Van Edouardo), Semira Lowenberg (Adam), Joseph Harris-Lesh, Jennifer Wilson (Thomas), their families, and numerous nieces and nephews