Lesley was born in Philadelphia, PA on May 10th, 1935. She was raised in Spring Lake and East Orange NJ and spent the summers at her family’s house on Lake Owassa. In March of 1959, she married Richard Harris of Branchville at the Baleville Congregational church, and became a Branchville resident.
Lesley was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a member of the Eastern Star of New Jersey, a long-time volunteer at the Newton Memorial Hospital, and the Hospital thrift shop, the Beehive. For several years she owned and operated, along with her daughter Nanci, a women’s clothing boutique outside Branchville, called “In The Pink”. She and her husband were honored by Branchville with the Senior Citizens award of Branchville in 2000.
Lesley enjoyed reading, knitting, needlepoint, playing cards, and traveling. She and her husband Richard had a love of antique glass and enjoyed traveling together to shows and antique shops around the country. Lesley was also an avid New York Mets fan; traveling to Florida each year to watch spring training was always a highlight.
Lesley was predeceased by her parents, Leslie and Dorothy (Stevenson) Freeman; her husband, Richard Hayden Harris; her son-in-law, Thomas Russell Poole; and her daughter, Nanci Joan Haggerty. She is survived by her children, Barbara Poole Kim and husband, Min; Robert Harris and wife, Diane; her son-in-law, Daryl Haggerty; her grandchildren, Matthew Poole, Timothy Poole and wife, Debra, Jesse Poole and wife, Corrine, Kwang and Jiji Kim, Evan and Bryan Harris, Brittany Larson and husband, Andrew; Austin Haggerty and wife, Cora, Luke Haggerty and wife, Ashley, Paxton Haggerty and wife, Grace; her great-grandchildren, Cole and Noah Larson, Kai, Keanu, and Liliana Poole, and Ruby Poole; and her beloved Shih-Tzu, Baby.
A private, family only, graveside service will be held under the direction of the Wood Funeral Home, Branchville, NJ. A celebration of life service will be held on Friday March 25th, 2022 at 2:00pm at the Lafayette Federated Church, 180 Route 15, Lafayette NJ.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Lesley’s memory to the Blue Ridge Rescue Squad, PO Box 232, Branchville, NJ 07826 or the Branchville Fire Department, PO Box 2425, Branchville, NJ 07826. Online condolences may be offered at www.woodfuneralhome.net.
