Patsy Ann Harris

Patsy Ann Walker Harris, 78, won her hard-fought battle with Alzheimer’s Disease on January 28, 2017. Her favorite scripture passage says: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) Her family is comforted and filled with peace knowing that her Lord led her straight into His arms on that day. Bright-Holland Funeral Home has scheduled funeral services for 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4th at First Baptist Church in Paris with Rev. Ken Cannon and Dr. Jeff Beckett officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. Patsy was born Dec. 16, 1938, in Greenville, TX to Herbert James Walker and Juanita Marie Watson Walker. She attended Wayland Baptist University where she met Robert Dale Harris, her future husband. They were married on August 15, 1959 in Fritch, TX and moved to Brookston in 1964 where they both eventually were employed by Campbell Soup Company. Dale preceded her in death on Oct. 1, 1998. Their 39 years of marriage were filled with love, family, and Christian ministry. Patsy served along with her husband, a bi-vocational music minister, at Seventh Street Baptist Church (Paris) and Trinity Baptist Church (Reno) before joining First Baptist Church of Paris where she was an active member for 35 years. Music was always an important part of her life. Patsy had a beautiful alto voice and loved to sing whether as a duet with Dale, as part of the Worship Choir, with her family, or with the 3 year old choir she and Dale directed together. She also loved to teach the Bible. She and Dale taught SS in the youth department at FBC for many years prior to his death. The last class Patsy taught was the Senior Adult Ladies whom she loved and enjoyed immensely. She had a passion for Christian service as was evidenced by her willingness to introduce and facilitate a GriefShare Ministry at FBC following the death of her husband. Another ministry highlight in her life was the FBC mission trip to the Ukraine she was blessed to be a part of in 2001 along with her granddaughter, Amanda Pearson. Patsy’s greatest source of joy, aside from the Lord, was her family. Whatever your relationship, you knew you were deeply loved by her and always welcome in her home. She taught her daughters by example how to value people over possessions and how to extend unconditional love. Her legacy of love is their most treasured inheritance. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and two brothers, Bradford Walker and Mickey Walker. Patsy leaves behind to honor her memory, her four daughters, Kathy Beckett & husband Jeff of Apex, NC, Diane Oatridge & husband Rob of Brookston, Beth Pearson & husband Scott of Paris and Tracey Veien & husband John of Paris; 14 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; one brother, Jimmy Walker & wife Marilyn of Dumas; one sister, Dottie McCaskill of Paris along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends. Casket bearers will be Jeff Beckett, Scott Pearson, John Veien, Rob Oatridge, Seth Oatridge, Jonathan Pearson and Lucas Beckett. As a meaningful alternative to flowers, memorials in Patsy’s name may be made to Finish the Race at FBC Paris. The family would like to express appreciation to Dr. Bercher and the staff at Platinum Palliative & Hospice Care – with special thanks to Lisa, Nancy and Rachel for their kind and compassionate care to Patsy and her family.