Mary Catherine Harris

Mary was a kind, loving and compassionate soul. She was born in Washington, D.C., to Robert and Thais (Bennett) Smith and the oldest of four children.

She graduated from St. Joseph High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1960. After high school, she worked as a secretary at the Great Lakes Naval Base; met Keith Harris in Waukegan, Illinois, and they married in 1963.

The family moved to Pendleton in 1974 where she met many new friends and was involved in her community and with her children's activities. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic parish where she loved going to church with her family.

She worked at the East Oregonian newspaper classified department, various educational assistant positions with local schools, Oregon State Hospital and for Blue Mountain Community College’s education department at the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution, where she retired after over 20 years.

She liked trying her luck playing bingo and loved trips to visit her family. She loved and adored her grandchildren, Whitney, Kaitlyn, Calvin, Laura, Sean, Emily and Shae.  Her first great-grandchild is due in July. Mary also adored all her nieces and nephews.  Mary passed away from cancer and is greatly missed.

She is survived by her husband, Keith; daughter, Lisa; sons, Michael and Tim Harris; and brother, Robert Smith. She is preceded in death by her brothers, Richard and Ron Smith; and her daughter, Chris Wilkins.

A Catholic service will be held on Friday, March 25 at 2 p.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with burial to follow at Skyview Cemetery. A reception will be held at the Pendleton Eagles Lodge at approximately 4 p.m