Faye Harris

1938 - 2024

Faye Harris was a brilliant computer scientist, skilled bird-watcher, naturalist and world traveler. Her kind, understated, and witty personality was appreciated by many friends. Her greatest devotion was to her partner of over forty years, Lee Decker.

Faye died in Austin, Texas at age 85 on May 17, 2024 of a brain injury caused by a fall. She was born Lois Faye Harris in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on Oct. 11, 1938.

After college, Faye joined IBM. She spent decades there as a pioneer in computer science. One of her key projects at IBM was work on the Apollo program at the Marshall Space Center at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. After retiring from IBM, Faye served as an outside consultant to the U.S. Navy.

In her younger years, Faye enjoyed racing classic "bug-eyed" Sprite sports cars. Many other interests, including photography, birding, travel and reading enriched her life.

In retirement, Faye and Lee flourished in the small community of Madison, Virginia. In 2006, the couple moved to the Austin area to be near Lee's Texas family. They traveled widely, to the Amazon, Belize, Europe, and Asia, many times in search of exotic birds and wildlife.

Faye was predeceased by her parents, Turner Edward Harris and Georgia Lucille Harris, and her brother James Edward Harris. She is survived by her beloved partner, Lee Decker of Austin, Texas, and a niece, Margie Harris of Georgetown, South Carolina.

No service is planned. The family expresses thanks to devoted caregiver Angie Huston and to the wonderful staff at the Village at the Triangle. In lieu of flowers, Faye requested donations to Puppies Behind Bars, Caritas, Foundation Community, or Mobile Loaves and Fishes.