Barbara "Bobbie" Jean Harris

YORK - Barbara Jean Morrow Harris, 99, died of complications of old age on August 21, 2023 at 4:37 AM in the loving presence of Anne and Mercy Harris and Mrs. Roxana Smith, in her bedroom surrounded by her grandfather’s oil paintings that she cherished.

Barbara, known as Bobbie, was born in Scranton PA on February 4, 1924. She grew up along the Susquehanna River, spending most of her formative days in Williamsport. As a child, she was introduced to stamp collecting by both of her parents, which became a lifelong interest. Before her senior year in high school, she moved to Lewisburg where she continued her education at Bucknell University. During WWII, she moved to New York City to take in the energy of the war effort while earning her master’s degree in merchandizing at NYU. Memories of particular importance at that time were of VE celebrations at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and in Times Square. She then was employed as a company representative for Barbizon, during a time when textile manufacturing was in resurgence in post-war America. In this capacity, she visited many cities in the eastern United States, including York PA, flying on DC-3s in all types of weather.

While in New York, she met her future husband, Bob, a medical student at New York Medical College Flower and Fifth Avenues. Due to his various Naval assignments, she found herself a young wife and mother in locations of Portsmouth VA and Key West FL, where she liked to walk along the beach looking for shipwreck artifacts. After Bob’s discharge, she lived very happily in Shepherdstown WV with her growing family, before moving again to Richmond VA and finally to York PA. Here, she was active in Medical and Hospital Auxiliary, PTA, and the foreign exchange programs AFS and YFU. Barbara was a lifelong reader and lover of the English language. Doing the NYT Sunday crossword was a 3 generation family tradition, as was playing Scrabble, especially with her daughter-in-law Mary Ann. She was always proud of a sonnet she wrote about the river she loved. At the age of 72, Barbara’s life changed upon welcoming the birth of her third grandchild who grew up in her household and brought her great joy.

Barbara was predeceased by her husband Floyd Lesher “Bob” Harris as well as her parents, Harold Herman Morrow and Helen Virginia Earle “Virginia or Gin” Morrow. She was also predeceased by paternal grandmother Anna Sophia Wagner Morrow, who was always present in her household, as well as her maternal grandparents Wright and Lina Woolheater Earle, who were also very influential in her formative years. Additionally, she was predeceased by parents-in-law Reverend Theodore Clifton Harris and Amelia Rappenecker Harris.

Barbara is survived by three children: in birth order, they are Mark Harris and wife Mary Ann Kutsch Harris; Virginia Amelia Harris; and Anne Earle Harris. She is also survived by 3 grandchildren: in birth order, they are Megan Anne Harris Clark, and husband David and children Noah and Tate; Ethan Urban Harris and wife Laura Friedman; and Mercy Earle Harris.

Memorial service and interment of ashes will be deferred until an unveiling of a new headstone next year. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to her favorite charities: the St. Labre Indian School in Ashland MT, the Ocean Conservancy, or the charity of your choice.

As her mother Virginia always said, “Vaya con Dios”.

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