Barbara Harris

I, Barbara Elaine Harris, to quote Rabelais (1494-1553 C.E.), “…go to seek a Great Perhaps”.

I left Monday, December 12, 2022, from Odessa, Texas, at 6:55 AM. My parents, Tommye Blankenship Harris & Charles (Charlie) D. Harris welcomed me, their only child, into the family.

I, Barbara Elaine Harris was born at 11:05 PM, Wednesday, May 15, 1940, in Lake Village, Arkansas; the only child of my parents, Tommye Blankenship Harris and Charles (Charlie) D. Harris. We left the hospital and went the few miles home to Portland, Arkansas, where I spent the first six years of my life. From there to Gurdon, AR, which was home until we moved to Midland, TX, in 1955. I graduated from Midland High School in 1958, and fortunate enough to be offered a band scholarship to Texas Western College (now UTEP) in El Paso, TX.

The academic & social aspects of college life were doors waiting to be opened. I became an active member of Tri Delta Sorority. If someone asked my dad what I was majoring in, he always said “I think it’s sorority”. Actually, I majored in Education. I received my B.S. degree and my Texas Lifetime Teacher Certificate from T.W.C. (UTEP) in January 1963.

I first taught at the Pojoaque Indian Reservation School outside of Santa Fe, NM, then in El Paso, before moving to Odessa. For 36 years, I was a sixth-grade teacher for ECISD. I taught at Reagan for 20 years, Burleson for 5 years, where I was a cooperating teacher for UTPB, and the final 11 years at Cameron. I was thrice named to Who Among American Teachers. I was a TSTA member and a member of TRTA. I retired in May 2000, with 38 years as a Texas educator.

My parents and my former husband, William Chilton (W.C.) Moore Jr. predeceased me.

I am survived by cousins, Sondra Dee Harris Sparks (Jeffery) of Lingleville, TX; Patricia Lee Harris Parker (Kevin) of Colorado City, TX; Ronald Lee Harris of Maricopa, AZ, and Charlee Blankenship Kimball of Mt. Ida, AR. Last, but not least, I am survived by my dear friend and caregiver Pamela Kaye Davis. Without Pamela, I would not have lasted this long and definitely not as well.

Barbara left on her journey from Odessa, at 6:55 AM, on Monday, December 12, 2022. Graveside service will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens at 2:00 PM, Monday, December 19, 2022. Reverend Dr. Jimmy Braswell will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, please direct memorial to an animal shelter of your choice.