Barbara Lorraine Harris

Barbara passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones at the Laurel Parc Assisted living center.  Barbara was born to George and Josephine McKiel in Clatskanie, Oregon.  Sadly, Barbara’s father died unexpectedly when she was 2 years old.  After which she and her mother became an inseparable team. They moved to Portland and Barbara attended St Mary’s Catholic grade school, St Mary’s High school, and graduated from Marylhurst College with a Bachelor degree in Education. While in high school she joined the St Lawrence youth group and maintained lifelong friendships with the members.  After graduating college she begin teaching grade school while also playing the cello in the chamber orchestra of Portland and later in the Walla Walla orchestra.  Barbara met her husband Lynn on a blind date. After a long courtship they married and started their family which included five daughters.  She dedicated her life to being a great wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker.  Barbara made sure to participate in all the extracurricular activities of her daughters.  For many years she was their Girl Scout leader receiving awards for her years of leadership.  She dedicated countless hours attending her daughter’s school activities, sports, cheerleading, school plays and many other events.  She made sure the “Harris House” was always the house for all of her girl’s friends to gather and hang out at.

Barbara, a Devout Catholic and proud to be of Lebanese decent, worked along with her husband and their dear friends to establish the St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic parish in SE Portland.  Barbara kept her love of music alive by being the organist of the parish for over 12 years.  Besides her love for music Barbara loved to decorate and celebrate for every holiday.  She loved flowers and spent years as a member of the Happy Valley garden club.  She was also an active member of the Lebanon Ladies charity club and several other organizations and clubs throughout the years.  Barbara and her husband loved to travel and were fortunate enough to visit many countries together as well as many states.  Yet their greatest joy was escaping to their beach home in Rockaway Oregon.  Here they spent treasured time with their grandchildren whom they adored.  It was Barbara’s greatest joy to be a part of her grandchildren’s lives.

Barbara is survived by her five daughters and their families, 11 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.  She is proceed in death by her parents and her beloved husband Lynn Edward Harris. Barbara felt blessed to have had a long and full life.  We would like to thank the dedicated assisted living staff of Laurel Parc for their loving care and attention.

Due to the restrictions of Covid19 a private mass and interment will be held.  In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to her favorite charity, Our Giving Table a local non-profit that ensure that every child in foster care & less privileged homes in the Pacific Northwest has the nutrition they need.  Donations can be made to Our Giving Table P.O. Box 86829 Portland, OR 97286 or on line at www.ourgivingtable.com.

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