Laura "Jean" Harris, of Santa Paula, was born on June 9, 1923 to Argus and Etta Mae Bates, in Lavaca, Arkansas. She passed away in her home on October 13, 2018 at the age of 95, surrounded by her grandsons. Jean was the salutatorian of the class of 1941 at Lavaca High School. In 1944, she married Billy Mack Harris, the love of her life. They had one son, Thomas Harris. In January of 1945, Billy, Jean and Thomas moved to Santa Paula, where Jean got a job as a switchboard operator for the Santa Paula Telephone Company. Billy and Jean started their own business in 1972, Harris Antique and Clock shop at 720 E. Main Street in Santa Paula. They operated the business as a team, Jean doing the antiques while Billy repaired clocks, until 1994 when Billy passed away. Jean continued to operate the Harris Antique and Clock Shop until 2003. Jean was an active member of Soroptimist International, First Baptist Church of Santa Paula, the Santa Paula Boys and Girls Club, the Los Padres Chapter of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, and a docent at the Santa Paula Union Oil Museum.
Jean was preceded in death by her husband Billy Mack Harris, sisters Jane Bates and Lois Bullington. She is survived by her son, Thomas Harris of Salt Lake City, Utah; Grandchildren Richard (wife Allison) Harris of Erie, Colorado; Michael (wife Danielle) Harris of Ventura; Lesa Nichols and Great Grandchildren, Emily, Jocelyn, Ainsley, Taylor, Zachary and Makenna, brother Thomas (wife Corine) Bates of Vista, sister Agnes Whitney of Redwood City, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to send a heartfelt Thank You to all the caregivers from Help Unlimited that took care of and cared for Jean over these last five years.
Services are October 20, 2018 at 12:00pm at Skillin-Carroll Mortuary 738 E. Santa Paula St., Santa Paula, CA. Burial is to follow at Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery 380 Cemetery Road., Santa Paula, CA.
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