Mabel Ellen Harris

MABEL HARRIS OBITUARY Mabel Ellen (Owen) Harris, 90, died August 7, 2018, in Hill City, Kansas. Mabel was born August 22, 1927 to William and Myrtle (Harvey) Owen on a farm near Bunker Hill, Kansas. She was a year old when her family moved to Graham County, on a farm near Bow Creek, between Hill City and Lenora, Kansas. She was the 5th child of the 11 born children. Mabel attended Prairie Dell Rural School through 8th grade, then her parents moved to Hill City. They later returned to the farm. She graduated from Hill City Memorial High School in 1946. While attending high school, Mabel worked for Pop and Nellie Kobler at the Drug and Variety Store. She enjoyed that part of her life – working and socializing with people and of course, there was skating and dances on the second floor of the store. It was during this time that Mabel met Ken Harris. He had returned from military duty in the Army Air Corp. They were married September 4, 1946 in Colby by a Justice of the Peace. They then took a trip to Colorado Springs, for a couple of days. Their first born, Terry Eldon, was born in 1949 in Hays at St. Anthony’s Hospital and their 2nd child, Sandra, was born in 1956, also at St. Anthony’s. They lived in Hill City and built a house in the south part of town on land bought from Mabel’s dad, Bill. She worked various jobs, including house cleaning for Mrs. Korb, Nellie Kobler and Mrs. Prentiss and at the Firestone store owned by Mr. Prentiss. She also worked as a nanny for the Keller’s. Ken worked in the oil fields and later was employed as a mechanic for Mr. Pembleton at the Chevrolet dealership. After finishing his work there, the family moved to Liberal, Kansas, where Ken worked for Hood Chevrolet. After living in Liberal a couple of years, they moved to Bensenville, Illinois, where Ken was employed by the Federal Aviation Agency at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. Terry and Sandy attended school in the area while Mabel worked for Zayres Discount Store and Micro Plastics in Des Plaines, Illinois. These were interesting and challenging times for the family. It was a big transition from Kansas to Chicago. In 1969, after Terry’s graduation from high school, Ken transferred to Longmont, Colorado and worked at the FAA air traffic control center. Here, Mabel worked for a Jewelry Store and Wildflower Clothing Store. In 1988 they sold their home in Longmont, Ken retired, and they moved to Bogue, Kansas. They settled in and remodeled a home. They enjoyed family times together. Mabel enjoyed sewing, gardening, furniture refurbishing, collecting jewelry and other items. She was a member of the Church of God in Hill City. In 2009, after being in Bogue 21 years, they moved to Firestone, Colorado, across the street from grandson Brandon. As it became more difficult for Ken to live at the higher altitude, so they moved back to Hill City. Ken passed away in 2012. Preceding her in death were her son Terry, who went to be with the Lord in April 2001, in Colorado Springs, Colorado; her parents, William and Myrtle; her sisters: Vivian Eicker, Alice Rome, and Esther Taggart and brothers: Wayne, Charles, and John. Left to mourn her passing are: her daughter Sandra of the Dominican Republic; grandsons: Brandon of Firestone, Colorado, Austin and wife Lauren of Las Vegas, Nevada; James Paul and wife Kelly of Maui, Hawaii, John and wife Cassandra of Las Vegas, Nevada; sisters: Ethel Starns and husband Tom of Ellinwood, Velma Jean Anderson and husband Lee of Bogue; brothers: Bill Owen and wife JoAnn, Don Owen, Mike Owen and wife Junell, all of Hill City; many nieces, nephews and friends. Mabel enjoyed life and all the things life had to offer. She loved her family and did what she could to improve their lives. She was humble, loving, and giving. A true example of an incredible warm and loving person, who worshiped the Lord until the day she departed. She now joins, Ken, Terry, her other siblings and family members in the Heavens.