Mary Ellen Harris

On the evening of Sunday, August the 23rd, Mary Ellen Harris slipped upstairs to her heavenly home. She was surrounded by her very loud & loving family.

A celebration of life will be held on September 12, 2026. Please contact the family for further information.

In the weeks leading up to her death, she fought like hell to stay with us, sipping Mt. Dew and eating Reese cups. She was loved, held and cared for by the many generations she inspired, loved, and made laugh, all of her life. Our aunt Mary was a terrific, one of a kind woman who lived a colorful life. She led with laughter and magic. She despised thick bread, chicken that is too big, and curvy roads. She loved her husband, Fred (booty), her doggies, Zoey & Mr. Buttons, Merle Haggard, cherry chapstick, & red wine, in that order.

She was born to the late Cecil Henry Holt and Ethel Beatrice King Holt in Muskogee, Oklahoma and despite all odds, after many devastating childhood events, she pulled herself up by her boot straps and moved to North Carolina. There, she started out her new life, caring for the people she loved. She meet her husband and life partner, Fred over the phone. At work, they started out as pals and slowly fell in love. Probably, long before they ever even knew it. Uncle Fred said that he knew she was beautiful, just by her charming voice and great personality. In 1977, she decided she had enough of the muggy NC air and was moving back home to Oklahoma. Fred had also had enough of the NC pollen and was moving to Florida. On a whim, they decided, since they were both leaving anyway, why not give it a try and see what it led to. They did. They spent 49 years of marriage together, in many places, but home was always with each other.

In addition to her parents, Mary is preceded in death by her siblings, Bill Lowery, Dorothy Gordon, and most beloved uncle, Stanley Holt.

She had an amazing knack for finding all the stray pennies. She believed they were only good luck, if they were heads up. Whenever she found one heads down, she would flip it over so that the next finder could have a little bit of luck. She created true magic for those who were blessed enough to be in her circle. She made baby blankets, collages, and wrote letters, including some that came from Saint Nicholas himself. She was a proud member of the Golden Corral & Happy China supper club, knowing many of the waitresses by name, even as her disease progressed. She spent many summers at the beach, riding in the golf cart and occasionally crashing it. Following that up with, ‘OOP, don’t tell uncle Freddie!’ A phrase we often heard, when one of our schemes went awry.

She had an incredible laugh that could also make you laugh, especially if it was during a situation where you must be quiet. She always seemed to get us giggling, when we really shouldn’t have been. She spoke perfect pig Latin, and had a hell of a tea pot & thimble collection. She guarded her coffee table with her life, until 2013 when that pesky mover scratched it up. After years of perfection.

A true Okie from Muskogee, our aunt Mary was the most incredible wife, sister, aunt, great aunt, great great aunt and had it been in the cards, she would have been a damn good mother, too. She loved us her whole life and we will miss her, dearly, for the rest of ours.

Mary is survived by her husband, Fred P. Harris; siblings, Pamela Allen, Cecil Ray Holt, Rebecca Richter, Carolyn Hayes, and Faye Saunders.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dementia Society of America. 188 N Main Street, Doyelstown, PA 18901