Neta Jo Harris

We are here to celebrate the amazing life of Neta Jo Harris. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend to all lives she touched. Jo passed away peacefully at the age of 91 at Advent Health Hospice on November 9, 2022.

Jo was born in Oklahoma City, OK on October 26, 1931. She was daughter to Waldo and Josephine Steele and sister to Bill Steele. While in college Jo met Amos William “Bill” Harris, an airman in the United States Air Force. The two married on August 5, 1951. The girls were watching the airmen march below their dorm window and Jo picked Bill beginning a love story spanning 71 years. Their military life took them many places including Japan and Alaska. Bill finally retired in Orlando in the 1970’s.

Jo was a devoted mother to Diane and Jack, adored grandmother of Frank, Samuel, Kimberly, and Gregory. She was also a proud great grandmother to Gavin, Finley and Micah. Louise Trimble, Bill’s sister, was also a very important person in her life.

She spent time mentoring the youth at Conway First Baptist Church in Orlando, FL. She directed the youth choir which she accompanied to multiple churches to perform. She made a difference in many young people’s lives. Jo worked for the federal government for 30 years in the Office of Personnel Management, where she began her career as a GS-4 and worked herself up to a GS-12 as a Administrative Assistant. After retirement from the government, Jo helped her husband Bill set up and operate Mannix Realty in East Orlando.

Jo enjoyed traveling with her family, especially to the Smokey Mountains. She also loved cruises, and spending time at their beach condo in Daytona. Broadway shows and Orlando Magic basketball games were two of Jo’s favorite activities to attend. She enjoyed cross stitch, puzzles, playing solitaire, and cooking.

Most of all she loved her family and friends and she would always sit down with you and just enjoy times together. There would always be a story of old times or her Grandkids. There was a smile on her face every time she saw them. She was the queen of lovin’ and spoilin’. Christmas was her favorite holiday where we were all together and she could do just that.

She will be dearly missed and will forever be in our hearts. She leaves her brother Bill, her husband Bill, daughter Diane, four Grandchildren, and three Great-Grandchildren.

We all love you …

“Rest In Peace in the arms of our Lord and Savior"

A celebration of life will be held at Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. Jo will be laid to rest at Chapel Hill Cemetery beside her son, Jack who precedes her in death.