Obituary of Rachel Mae Harris

Rachel Oliver Harris transitioned into eternity on September 10, 2018, after a brief illness in Tucson, Arizona. She was born on June 24, 1925, to Sam and Justina Oliver in Enterprise, Mississippi. Her parents, brothers and sisters preceded her in death. She graduated from TJ Harris High School, Meridian MS. Shortly after graduation Rachel moved to Freeport, Illinois to establish her first retail employment opportunity with her sister and brother-in-law at their restaurant. While en route to visit her elder brothers in San Francisco, during the summer of 1952, Rachel stopped in Tucson to help her nephew, Rubin Salter, Jr. get settled in at the University of Arizona and she remained a loyal resident ever since. She married Senior Master Sergeant Edward Harris the love of her life and they shared 56 years together until he passed in 2003. Rachel and Edward were fortunate to live abroad during his tours in the Air Force; she especially enjoyed living in France. She was truly a devoted military spouse. Rachel Harris relished working in the retail industry and was an employee of Skaggs Drug Stores during the 1960's and early 1970's. In 1972, the Harris' became the owners of a successful convenience market in Tucson. Rachel was a very resourceful and creative woman. She enjoyed baking, sewing, crocheting and gardening. Her interest in historical research culminated in many trips to the world's largest genealogical library in Salt Lake City, Utah and to the National Archives in Washington, D.C., where she and her sister, Josephine, uncovered the historical records of her matriarchal ancestry dating back to the early 1800's. Rachel accepted Christ at an early age she was a woman of faith and was an active member of Philips Chapel CME Church in Tucson, AZ for more than 65 years. She was a long time resident of Mountain View Retirement Village where she maintained a very active life style enjoying outings to various events or simple evenings socializing with friends in the dining hall. Rachel loved traveling including her last trip this summer to Hot Springs, Arkansas, to attend the annual family reunion where she earned the title of the oldest living member of the family and spent time connecting with her family. Though she has moved on to be with family and no longer with us, her legacy will be felt with her surviving family, friends and community she leaves behind. Rachel Oliver Harris is survived by several generations of nieces and nephews, extended family and friends who cherish her memory. Visitation is at the Adair Funeral Home - Avalon Chapel, 8090 N. Northern Avenue, Oro Valley, AZ 85704, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm on Friday, September 21, 2018. The Funeral Services will be held at 11 am. on Saturday, September 22nd at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 1431 W. Magee Road, Tucson, AZ 85704. A repast will follow. The Interment is noon on Monday, September 24, 2018 at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery - Sierra Vista, AZ.