marcella harris

Celebrating the Life of
Marcella 'Marcie' Harris

Marcella Hartwell Harris passed away on May 19, 2017 in Alhambra, California. Her husband of 64 years, Thomas I. Harris was by her side. Marcie was born in Madison, Wisconsin in 1929. Her parents were Richard Winsor Hartwell and Fannie Catherine Hartwell. Marcie was always active doing everything her big sister, Dora Mary, did including roller skates that had to be tied on her feet, because she was so little! Marcie played as pitcher on the boy's neightborhood baseball team.
At 16, she met Tom at the First Baptist Church of Madison when he was 15. It was love at first sight for him, but it took a year before she said yes to his first date request! Their love for each other deepened and they finished high school (she as a member of the National Honor Society). She went to the University of Wisconsin to study Home Economics and Nursing, receiving her BS degree and RN in early 1953. Tom went to the U of W, majoring in Physics and then on to the University of Rochester for a MS degree in Optics and Physics the same year. They were married in June and moved to Chicago for Tom's first job. Marcie became Head Nurse of Evanston Hospital's Neonatal unit.
After three years, they were ready to start a family. They bought a house in Mundelein, Illinois. Their first son Tom was born in 1957, and Richard in 1959. Marcie loved the role of mother, guiding them through their early years. In 1960, Tom's job was moved to California where they always wanted to live. They joined the First Baptist Church of Pasadena, where the pastor was now the one who had married them in Madison. Marcie became very active, singing in the choir and visiting shut-ins at Atherton Baptist Homes. She was known for her loving, sparkling nature and her ability to reach out in love to all.
When Tom started his consulting business in 1963 (Optical Research Associates), she became its Treasurer, keeping the books and managing the money.
She loved being a wife and mom, planning birthday parties, and helping her sons with studies. Later, she and Tom got to travel to many places and camping all over the West. Marcie began to suffer from Alzheimer's in 2004 and they moved to Atherton Baptist Homes in Alhambra to enjoy the loving family they found there. She was physically active up to the time of her death. She is survived by her husband Tom, sons Tom (wife, Sheryn) and Richard (wife, Teresa), seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren, and her many loving friends.
Services will be held at Merriam Chapel, Atherton Baptist Homes, 214 S. Atlantic Boulevard, in Alhambra California on June 11, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.