Mildred Christine Harris

Mildred Christine Dobbs Norton Harris

Christine lived a full life – full of work and learning, full of friends, full of family, full of love both given and received, and full of God.

Christine was born in Haskell, Arkansas on March 12, 1933. She spoke about her early childhood as a time of total innocence and freedom from worry and care. Her parents, Richard and Mae Ola, were hard-working farm people who provided a solid foundation based on citizenship, education, family, and faith. She and her siblings, Geraldine and Larry, have always had a strong bond, and continued talking and visiting as often as possible. Church was a cornerstone of their lives, and Christine served God by being the pianist at their country church. In fact, at every church where they were members, Christine was the primary pianist or accompanied small groups.

She married a true gentleman, Pete Norton, on August 6, 1953, and began family life. They had three children – Tricia, Rick and Terry, and strove to give them the same idyllic childhood that Christine had had. The family moved almost every year as Pete progressed in the Life Insurance business - finding a new church home, meeting new friends, and becoming involved in activities. In Lexington, Kentucky, Christine was instrumental in starting a Kindergarten at the church, and after setting this up after evening church, they generally gathered with friends. Christine was a talented seamstress and usually had a small business from the home. During this time of life she was involved in the children's activities as homeroom mother, and she led 4 H, Girls in Action, Royal Ambassadors and Boy Scouts. Time with family and relatives was a top priority, and vacations were usually to visit and enjoy family.

Christine and Pete moved to Arizona in 1969 and bought a diner near the Coliseum. They named it Chris's Diner, and the family learned to work in a restaurant. The TV show Mel's Diner used the sign for their logo, and Christine was in the movie Love and Bullets which filmed inside and in the parking lot.

After the diner was sold, Christine and Pete took on another new business when they bought All Seasons Pool and Patio. Here the family learned how to sell and care for pools, patio furniture, and Christmas trees. While running these businesses, Christine and Pete worked together as they mentored their employees, learned new skills, had opportunities to travel, and created a positive work environment based on their Christian values and witness. Life was good.

Along the way, heartache came when Terry passed away at age 10, and Pete passed away in 1999.

Christine retired and became more involved with church. She edited the Senior newsletter, Joy in the Morning, served on the Counting Committee, played the piano for the Jubilee Choir, and enjoyed planning and participating in activities with the Seniors.

The Jubilee Choir is where Christine met a very special man, Dale Harris, and began a new phase of her life. She and Dale were married on May 10, 2008. They worked together in church, led the Jubilee Choir, traveled, spent time with family, and just really enjoyed each other's company.

Christine told everyone she met about her wonderful family. And it is true! Mamaw was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She developed a special relationship with each grandchild. Everyone was welcome at Mamaw's, anytime, and visits were spent talking about the accomplishments of each of the grandchildren and great grandchildren, and then talking about the new adventures they were having. And, she always managed to bring up her 90th birthday party. At that party, her children and all of her grandchildren were there as well as friends from all walks of life. It was truly the best party ever!

Proverbs 31 asks and answers, "Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is above rubies. The heart of her husband does safely trust in her…She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life …Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also. Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised."

These verses truly fit Christine. She loved unconditionally, listened well, encouraged everyone to be their best, set positive examples of work and how to be a good person and witness, didn't like change at all, taught everyone to be stubborn, and on occasion, she could be a bit of a sassy Mamaw.

She will be greatly missed here, but we know she is celebrating her new life in Heaven!

Christine is survived by her husband, Dale Harris and his family.

Christine's children and their families consist of: Tricia and Kent Ridgeway and their children and families: Kara - David and Leslee and their sons Koston and Adler - Peter and Aisha and their son Leon - Jillian and Preston Ford and their children Noah, Nate, Hudson, Harrison, and Livi Christine - Grace and Sean Retter and their daughter Rowan. Rick and Jennifer Norton and their children and families: Rebecca - Kendra and Jason Kaplan and their children Kennedy, Colin, Benjamin, and Lincoln - Krystal and Ryan Silverstein and their children Peyton and Vin.