Reba Maxine Harris

Birthday: December 12, 1927

Parents: Ella Marie Parker and William Cullen Dawes

I grew up on a farm about 6 miles from Yale, Oklahoma. I have (3) sisters and (2) brothers.

I learned a good work ethic at a young age. I had to go drive the cows in each morning (they were usually at the back of the pasture one half mile) so my dad could milk them. Then I prepared breakfast since my mom was sick with asthma since childhood. Then I walked 1 1/4 miles to Lone Mound School. I went to a school that taught 1 thru 8th grade for all (8) grades. I actually skipped third grade. I was promoted .

I always had chores to do after I walked home from school. Also prepared dinner many times. My Aunt Aleene told me this many times, that I made the best biscuits from scratch when I was 6 years old. This I don't remember since it was just part of breakfast. My Dad, always wanted bacon, ham or sausage, eggs, fried potatoes and gravy, occasionally oatmeal.

After graduating from the one room school I went to a consolidated high school - my what a shock when I went from being the only one in my class to 28 others and a different teacher in each class. I survived.

I even played basketball - I was the center. I played for 4 years. My parents never saw one game. They didn't want me to play because we wore shorts (to our knees) on game nights. One of the players invited me to spend the night with them. My parents wouldn't take me. I showed my independence or rebelled to get to play. I received a scholarship when I graduated. My Dad didn't think girls needed to go to college.

I met my true love in high school, Glen Eugene Harris. Our first day was to a basketball game ha ha.

My first job was in a grocery store. A small family owned grocer. We wrote the item on a pad. Then added them on a small adding machine. I went to another family owned larger store, The Model Grocery.

After we were married - August 28, 1946. We were married in Columbus, KS. You didn't need blood test in KS. My mother and brother Neal were our witnesses.