Anna Belle Harris

ANNA BELL HARRIS
5/30/1936 – 12/18/2020
PERRY, OK

Anna Belle Harris, 84, died on December 18, 2020 at her home in Perry, Oklahoma. Visitation is planned for Monday, December 21, 2020 at the Dighton Marler Funeral Home Chapel in Perry from noon until 5 PM. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at 11:00 AM at the Covington Cemetery Pavilion. Rev. Tommy Donaldson will officiate. Interment will follow. Arrangements have been entrusted to Dighton Marler Funeral Home of Perry.
Anna was born May 30, 1936 on the family farm in Oneta, Oklahoma, the youngest daughter of Otha Alva and Sylvia (Hirn) Houser. She grew up on a farm and attended Central School at Oneta through the 8th grade, then transferred to Broken Arrow and was a 1954 graduate of Broken Arrow High School. After graduating, Anna began working for Standard Life Insurance Co. in Tulsa as a secretary and switch board operator. After five years she resigned with the birth of her daughter.
On September 3rd 1955 she married her high school sweetheart Dwayne Harris in the Methodist Church in Broken Arrow, OK. To this union were born a daughter Theresa and son Leland. When the children started school she accepted a position with Broken Arrow Public Schools as an elementary school secretary. After eight years at Oakcrest Elementary she was invited to transfer to the Administrative Center as secretary for Dr. H.D. Hall, Assistant Superintendent over all instructional and curriculum material for the elementary schools. In 1994 she retired with 25 years of service.
Her hobbies included collecting depression glassware, gardening, and volunteering. She was a member of the Greater Tulsa Depression Era Glass club, and a board member of North Eastern Active Timers, Broken Arrow Seniors, Inc. and she was very active in the Arrow Heights Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and served in many ways. She enjoyed assisting her sister Louise inducting those reaching the age of 100 into the Centenarian Club of Oklahoma.
Dwayne and Anna relocated to Perry in 2009 to be closer to their family.
Anna was a born again believer with her conversion on April 28th 1963 at the Arrow Heights Baptist Church in Broken Arrow, OK. She was a member of the First Baptist Church at the time of her death.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Dwayne, of the home; daughter, Theresa Gaytan and her husband David of Farmers Branch, TX; son Leland Harris and his wife Beverly of Lucien, OK. Five grandchildren, Katlin Wicker (Clint) of Waukomis, Jennifer Harris of Covington, Madison Gaytan of Dallas, TX, Mary Gaytan of Carrolton, TX, and Michael Gaytan (Ashley) of Twentynine Palms, CA. Five great-grandchildren; Leigha and Emmalynn Wicker of Waukomis, Trevor Williams of Carrolton, TX, Alyssa and Bryden Gaytan of Twentynine Palms, GA. She is also survived by her sister, Louise Gibson and husband J.A. of Tulsa, OK. She is preceded in death by her parents, five sisters and a brother.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the First Baptist Church of Perry, Youth Department. For those attending the services, the family has requested the wearing of masks and the practicing of social distancing in accordance to CDC Covid-19 guidelines. Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at www.dightonmarler.com.