In was in the cold of the Winter 1926 when Leo Irene Harris joined the World in Henrietta Oklahoma. Born to William “Harvey” Sullivan and Letti McDaniels-Sullivan, she grew up in the oil Boon town of Kusa OK. She remembered the steam trains of the era roll through the small community and the engineers waving at the kids to the unmistakable sounds of the steam whistle. It was a simple life, finding happy times along with the struggles that many families of the time faced in the brink of The Great Depression. She recalled times when a local Bhrama Bull cornered her and her sisters, Billie, Norma Jean & brother Cecil up an oil dereck. The youngsters would hold up in the Structure until Harvey (there Dad) would eventually come to their rescue. She told of a time when tragedy nearly struck at a local county fair when she rode the ferris wheel with her Brother Cecil and the seat latch broke, terrifying the pair. Another time the kids gathered round the dinner table only to find that the main entre was a calf known to the family as Popeye. The kids all cried when they learned of the loss of Popeye and that he was for dinner. It was a difficult time in the late 20’s and the early 30’s and food was a tough item to come by at times.
The Family moved a few times in Oklahoma, from Kusa (now gone) to Carter Nine (also gone) and finally ending up in Pawhuska into a very small home. Irene loved to play Basketball in High School & played for the school team. She told me of a rarely taken vacation that the entire family loaded up into the early 40s model Chevy and drove to Galveston Texas so the kids could see the ocean. She told me of the long journey from Oklahoma to Galveston Texas as Harvey drove the crew on what in those days was likely a 12 hour drive. She said they stayed about 1 or 2 hours, had a picnic during that time. Then, they piled back into the car and made the 12 hour trip back to Oklahoma so Harvey could get back to his duties as Oil Field Forman.
With the Roaring 20’s left behind and The Nation on the brink of WW 2 in the late 30’s, Irene graduated High School and continued on with additional general studies. But being fresh out of High school and a young lady beginning to make her way in the World at age 19, the Country would change forever that year. It was Dec 7 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese Empire. The US was at war, everyone had to do their part. The men were off to battle, the women had to step up and largely handle many of the needs here at home. The War effort ushered in a new era, one where “Rosie The Riviters” were unveiled for the first time. Irene was one of those women. She quickly was hired to help build the planes in Oklahoma City for MacDonald Douglas used in the War. She would work tirelessly on the assembly line, riveting, welding, whatever it took.
It was 1945 at the Wars end when Irene’s Land Lady Louise introduced her to USMC Private John Harris He was just home from the Sands of Iwo Jima in The South Pacific. A lean Marine, John swept Irene off her feet even though she was engaged to another. John told her, “you may as well get rid of that engagement ring cuz you and I are getting married”. And they did, and the rest is history.
The two were wed that year, quickly began their family with Linda Fay , their first born. The young couple started a life in Dallas Texas and Irene gave birth to Johnnie Irene and Jeannie Louis, Dad built a successful tile & construction business and settle into a home at 818 Brookwood drive in Oak Cliff. Later the Family moved into a beautiful colonial home on Cedar Circle Drive in Duncanville, that’s when yours truly (John T Harris Jr) arrived on the scene. Four of us in all, Mom was very busy. As we grew, she stepped back into the workforce in 1969-70 working at Texas Instruments. By 1971, the Family Business took a turn for the worse, and we moved to Hot Springs Arkansas. By then, I was the only child at home, Mom continued to work but she never really liked Arkansas, So, we went West, out to California. Dad bought rental property and a home in San Bernardino Cal and Mom settled in. But we didn’t stay long, while Ronald Reagan was new to the White House, we were on our way to Prescott Arizona. Mom & Dad helped me go to College, though they taught me to work for it…. Without their help it would have been difficult.
So it came to pass that they no longer had their kids at home. Their job was done. But now a Grandma, Irene was very much a part of her grandchildren’s lives. Shelly, Joey, Troy, Robin, Chuck, Ronnie & Carrie, she loved you all, loved us all. She was in her element at home with kids, a caring, loving Mother, Grandmother and later Great Grandmother and Great Great Grandmother.
Through the 80’s & 90’s Irene & John lived in Apache Jct AZ. Though she never was a big fan of the desert, she found that she did love the flowers and plantlife of the region. She told many times of the story of a Bobcat who glared at her through the fence while she was working in her garden one morning. She said they were eye to eye, but the wildcat just went on with his business leaving a surprised Irene in a little shock. I’m not shocked that happened though, I have seen Mom with mother nature, birds, squirrels, etc. She was always in touch with the part of her that was native American, Choctaw & Cherokee. Though mostly Irish, she kept alive her Tribal instincts with her love for nature. She had a real connection to that part of her heritage. But she never passed up a god Irish stew either. Lol !
In 1996, the man she was married to for 51 years was diagnosed with Cancer, and Dad didn’t have long. The two moved to Tulsa Oklahoma in 1998, Irene’s home, where they met and it all had started a half Century before. On July 6th of that year, Dad passed away. Mom was lost for a while, it was hard on her. Jeannie and now husband Bob helped her through a most trying time. Irene settled into her new home in Tulsa and enjoyed her new place for several years.
Fast forward to 2003, I asked Mom to come to Spokane Valley, we talked about it quite a bit and since she had been here several times before. It was a place she knew and loved. The decision was made and her & I made the roadtrip of a lifetime from Tulsa to here in a fully loaded U Haul truck towing her car. The old truck broke down In Sheridan Wyo . I knew something was wrong with the truck but didn’t let on. But I couldn’t fool her she knew right away something was up. Luckly, the truck was repaired & we made it to our final destination.
In 2004, she bought her home in Spokane Valley, it was her sanctuary. It made her the happiest I had seen her in many years. She loved the back yard & the front. She always decorated for the seasons. She had almost 13 years in her home where Buddy was her Pal. I was her groundskeeper & maintenance man over the years, She had a knack of telling you to get something without saying it. Such as Bob & the trashcan story (tell story).
At age 89, Irene began her biggest challenge, the fight for her life. She met it head on, there was no quit, no surrender, no rolling over, only strength & fight. And that she did, until her 91 yo plus body could fight no more. She left us the way she joined us, always with grace, dignity and class. When she knew she was Home, away from the hospital, the machines & all the rest… she settled in & in a couple hours she peacefully resigned from this World. But she lives on in all of us, if not by blood then by the opportunity of having her in our lives. We will take that with us always, and we honor her today and forever after with loving memory. We will always have her in our hearts, we will pass her story to our children & our Grand Children and theres. She is who we are so take her with you always.
Arrangements under the direction of Thornhill Valley Chapel, Spokane, WA.
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