Jeanette I. Harris

1942 - 2019

Jeanette I. Harris

Bucyrus - Jeanette I. Harris, 76, of Bucyrus passed away to eternal glory Wednesday, January 09, 2019 at The OSU James Cancer Hospital after a valiant fight with an aggressive lymphoma.

She was born in Bucyrus Twp. on October 30, 1942 to the late Lawrence H. and Martha L. (Campbell) Christman. She grew up in Sulphur Springs where she met her high school sweetheart, Gerald A. Harris, and graduated in 1960. Jeanette and Gerald were married on November 17, 1961 and shared 33 years of marriage until his untimely death in a car accident on May 2, 1995.

Jeanette was fun, encouraging, and always busy with projects for her home, church, friends and family. She had a thirst for God from an early age and made Jesus Christ her Lord and Savior in her early 20s. Since then, she spent every morning studying her Bible, counselling innumerable people in person and over the phone, and pouring herself and the love of Christ into her family and all who knew her. While her most important jobs were wife and mother, she also worked for the phone company early on, then did childcare and sewing from home along with wallpapering and refinishing and reupholstering furniture for others before finishing her work career with Central Monogramming.

Always on the go, no project was left unfinished even if it meant staying up late and getting up early. Never one to shy away from a challenge or adventure, Jeanette would often say, "Sure, let's make a memory" and jump in with both feet. She loved Proverbs 31 and that passage gave direction to who she was. Her prayers, love, support, and encouragement influenced all her children and grandchildren to love the Lord. Jeanette will be remembered as an amazing hostess with an eye for décor, epic Christmas Eve gatherings, and her chocolate-craving sweet tooth. She was an early member of the Bucyrus First Alliance Church where she led the decorating committee, was a youth group leader, small group coordinator, was active in GriefShare, and so much more. She was partial to conservative causes and organizations and she could quote Zig Ziglar right along with many inspirational scriptures.

Jeanette is survived by six children, Shelly (Nick) Fasone and their children, Draeton, Braxton, and Khail; Chris (Kelly) Harris and Ethan, Xavier, Isaiah, Quade, Willow, and Renelle; Justine (Steve) Styer and Eliana, Elijah, and Ezra; Phil (Kristin) Harris and Micah, Brennan, and Hope; Matthew "Bubba" (Kelly) Harris and Korinne, Kailyn Jeanette, Kroix, and Kiersten; and Nathan "Dewey" (Mackenzie) Harris and Kenan, Everly, and Abbott. She is also survived by sister, Carol Creger; sister-in-law, Cindy Christman, and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by brother, Dale Christman and brother-in-law, Tom Creger.

The Harris family will receive friends on Saturday, January 12 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at First Alliance Church, 1955 Hopley Ave., Bucyrus where her funeral will be held on Sunday at 2:30 pm with Pastor Bill Strader officiating. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery, Sulphur Springs.

Those wishing to give contributions are encouraged to make them payable to First Alliance Building Fund or Crawford County Right to Life and will be received at the church or Wise Funeral Service in Bucyrus. Memories and photos can be shared on Jeanette's tribute page at www.wisefuneral.com.