Jean Harris

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Ila Jean Harris, Neosho, passed away peacefully on November 12 at the age of 89. She was the daughter of Leonard and Beulah (Gentry) Mitchell and was born May 18, 1933, on the family farm east of Newtonia, Missouri. Her family later moved to a farm west of Fairview, where she grew up. 

After graduating from Fairview High School, she attended Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, where she graduated cum laude in 1957. 

She taught in elementary schools in Neosho, Springfield, and Dale City, Virginia. Jean married Lee Harris on July 15, 1956. As a wife of a career Marine, the family frequently moved, living in southern California and on the east coast near Washington D.C. The last duty station was in the Kansas City area. Jean worked for 20 years for the federal courts in the bankruptcy division. Upon retirement, she moved back to the area she grew up in, settling in Neosho.

Jean enjoyed reading, bird watching, gardening, and, most of all, traveling. With her friend Betsy, she made her first Elderhostel trip to Georgia. She enjoyed it so much that she followed it up with ten other Elderhostel vacations.

Jean was the proud mother of two sons, Gregory Len and David Lee, (Robin) who survive. Also, surviving are grandchildren Adam Harris, Shannon Chervitz and her husband Mike, Rachel Gates and her husband Dylan, Emily Harris, and sister Carolyn Kelly, seven great-grandchildren; Kaiden, Madilyn and Ella Chervitz, Keira and Tristan Harris, Nathan and Penelope Gates,a great grandson on the way, numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Jean is preceded in death by her parents, Greg and David's father, Lee Harris, granddaughter, Kaitlin Harris and sister, Eloise Warren.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at the Dice Cemetery in Fairview, Missouri. A visitation will be held Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Clark Funeral Home in Neosho, Missouri.