Mary H. Harris (92) of Effingham

Mary H. (Feuerborn) Harris, 92, of Effingham, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 23, 2017, at Lakeland Rehabilitation & Health Care Center in Effingham.

A funeral mass will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 4 at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Effingham. Burial will be in St. Anthony Cemetery in Effingham. Visitation will be from 11:30 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday at the church. Services are in care of Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. Memorials may be made in loving memory of Mary to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church at www.stanthony.com.

Online condolences may be shared by clicking here. The family requests cards may be sent to the Harris Family, 502 E. Market Street, Effingham, IL  62401.

Mary was born on October 3, 1924, in Effingham, Illinois, the daughter of Lawrence and Elizabeth (Probst) Feuerborn. After graduating from St. Anthony High School, Mary attended St. Francis College in Joliet, IL. She was then employed by The Taylor Law Firm in Effingham. She married Morton “Mort” B. Harris in 1948 in Effingham. Together they raised five sons. While Mort practiced optometry in Effingham his entire career, Mary enjoyed being a homemaker and caring for her family. She was an avid reader, loved gardening and baked the most delicious angel food cakes and sugar cookies. As a lifelong member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Mary spent many hours volunteering both at church and at St. Anthony Catholic School where her children attended. Mary never missed an opportunity to cheer at ballgames and attend special events of her children and grandchildren. Her unique gift was in remembering special occasions of family, friends, and neighbors. Whatever the occasion, Mary always sent a card or personal note. Always there for others when the need arose, Mary was a kind and generous person. Throughout her life, she was a dedicated daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

She is survived by sons, Stephen and wife Janet of Cape Girardeau, MO, Michael “Max” of Chino Hills, CA, David and wife Jessica of Houston, TX, and Robert “Bob” of Effingham, IL; grandchildren, Schanan, Stacy, Michael, Caleb, Lance and Ian; and great-grandchildren, Dean and Becca.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Herbert Feuerborn and Albert Feuerborn; her husband of 47 years, Dr. Morton “Mort” Harris; her oldest son, Morton, Jr. “Butch”; and daughter-in-law, Rebecca “Becky” Harris.