Jean Stearns Harris

Jean Stearns Harris, 91, of Tampa, Florida died peacefully at home on March 9th, 2016. She was born in Birmingham, Alabama and moved to Florida at the age of three. She attended Roosevelt Elementary School, Wilson Junior High School, and graduated from Plant High School, Class of 1942. She then attended Florida State College for Women and was a member of Chi Omega Sorority. She remained an active member for many years. She was also a sustaining member of The Junior League of Tampa, where she was on the Gasparilla Cookbook Committee. She was also an active member of Bayshore Baptist Church. She met her late husband, Major H. Tom Harris, at a dance at Tampa Yacht and Country Club. The next day he went to ask her out for lunch at 3rd Air Force Headquarters where she worked. And as they say, the rest is history. They were married on December 1, 1944 and enjoyed 71 years of happiness with a deep and abiding love for each other. She was predeceased by her husband, Lt. Col. H. Tom Harris 18 days before her own death, her mother and father, Leone Stearns and Howard F. Stearns, and her brother, Sonny Stearns. She is survived by her sons Thomas H. (Sandy), Steven E. and granddaughter, Bonnie Stearns Harris, two nephews, Rod and Ford Stearns, a niece, Demaris Stearns, and her sister-in-law Rosemary Lee Stearns. A Memorial Service will be held for both Jean and Tom on April 9, 2016 at 2:00 PM At Bayshore Baptist Church, 311 W. Morrison Ave. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Bayshore Baptist Church or Lifepath Hospice of Tampa, 12470 Telecom Dr., Suite 300, Tampa, FL 33637.