Grace Eleanore Harris

1942 - 2025

Grace Eleanore Holt was born to David Humphrey and Audrey Marie Simon Holt on November 16, 1942, in Ashland, Wisconsin. She passed away on May 31, 2025 in Crestview, Florida. Grace lived in Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Alabama before calling Florida home.

Grace attended college at the University of Wisconsin in Madison and studied Speech Pathology. She started her speech therapy career with the Easter Seal Society and that position enabled her to travel to many states and work with school districts screening children for speech therapy services. This time in her career allowed her to work with many smaller community school systems, including some on Native American Reservations, and she greatly treasured those opportunities.

She was an active member of the 1st Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Crestview, Florida. She was also a long-time member of the Choctawhatchee Bay Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR).

She married her cowboy, John Gilbert Harris, on August 14, 1965, in Madison Wisconsin. They enjoyed traveling and calling the Western states home for many years. In addition to her professional life, she supported her husband as a horse wrangler on the beautiful Granite Creek Ranch in Jackson, Wyoming. After raising their family, they continued their careers in owning and managing a pawn shop and an antique furniture store in Alabama and in Florida.

Grace is survived by her children – Paula Terry (Kim Charles), Grant Harris (Karina), Amy Lynn Herf (David) and Mark Harris (Kelly White), her lovely grandchildren - Eric Kollauf (Alivia) Daniel Kollauf (Kassie) Zoila Marie Fliehman (Andrew) Tom Patrick Reategui, Caleb Harris, Logan Harris (Savanah) and Lukas. Andrew Linares (Christine) Jeffrey Linares, Kali Bancel (Terry) Aaron Herf (Anne) Bailey Welty, Bryson Harbridge, Brayden Harbridge and Breanna Grace Harris and Breanna's mother Angel, and precious great-grandchildren - Parker Grace, Charlotte Grace, George, Joshua David, Anna Katherine, Emmeline Jane, Alistair Allen, Lila Jean. She is also survived by her brother Dwight Humphrey Holt, sisters Elizabeth Marie Griesser, Audrey Ann Holt-Grosnick (Douglas) and multiple nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband John Gilbert Harris, father David Humphrey Holt and mother Audrey Marie Simon Holt, brother James McCauley Holt, sister Jean Louise Holt Welton, brothers-in-law Kenneth R. Welton and Richard H. Griesser, and sister-in-law Elaine Stanton Holt.

Grace had a brilliant mind and was passionate about education. Proper use of grammar was a true affection of hers, and she did not hesitate to offer correction when it was needed, even when it was to her high school kids' teachers! Failing plants were often nurtured back to life by Grace's phenomenal green thumb, and her love of animals ensured she was never without a K-9 companion.

Though Grace loved a lot of things, the love she had for her family and for her faith were of the upmost importance to her, and the legacy she leaves behind will demonstrate that truth for many, many years to come.

A time of visitation will be held on Friday, June 6, 1:00-2:00pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3 Del Cerro Camino, Crestview, FL 32539 with Memorial Service following at 2:00pm.

Arrangements are entrusted to McDonald Family Funeral Home.