Mary Katherine Cooley Harris, 92, departed this life for the life eternal at North Mississippi Medical Center Hospice Unit on January 4, 2019. Mary Katherine was born in Tupelo on April 19, 1926 the daughter of the late William Dalmer Cooley and Rachel Aycock Cooley. She graduated from Tupelo High School in 1944. She married Luther Harris, Jr. in 1944 and together they were blessed with one son, Luther, III. A loving wife and mother, Mary Katherine was a true helpmate to her late husband by helping him advance his career with Wonder Bread in various locations in Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana. Mary Katherine was a member of Tupelo First United Methodist Church where she was a longtime faithful member of the Belle Bennett Sunday school class and a volunteer at Helping Hands, which gave her much joy until her health failed. A kind, loving and gentle soul, Mary Katherine leaves behind a legacy of wonderful memories for her family and friends to treasure for a lifetime.
A service celebrating her life will be held in the Tupelo Room of Holland Funeral Directors at 4 PM Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019 with Rev. Andy Ray and Rev. Fred Britton officiating. Private burial will follow in the Harris Family Plot at Unity Presbyterian Church Cemetery east of Plantersville. Visitation will be from 2PM – service time Sunday only at Holland-Tupelo Chapel, which is honored to be serving their friends.
Survivors include her son, Luther “Butch’ Harris, III and his wife, Betty Mallard Harris of Plantersville; a grandson, Luther “Chip” Harris, IV and his wife, Meredith Jones Harris and one great granddaughter, Olivia Katherine Harris all of Tupelo.
The family wishes to thank Comfort Keepers staff for the excellent care given that allowed Mary Katherine to stay in her home the last 3 years. Special thanks is also given to the following who helped her to maintain a positive quality of life; Ann Nails, Janice Hollis, Ruby Ruff and Linda Knowles.
Memorials may be made to the Tupelo First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 854, Tupelo, MS. 38802
