The family of Mary Petrillose Harris are saddened to report her death on Aug. 22 at Alexian Village in Signal Mountain at the venerable age of 114.
Mrs. Harris was born in Ithaca, N.Y., on May 13, 1911. She and her husband, J. Richard (“Dick”) Harris, now deceased, were longtime residents of Cortland, N.Y., where together they built a highly successful dry-cleaning chain, Harris Cleaners, and a large dairy-farm operation, Fairview Farms.
Over the years, Mrs. Harris also became a very talented and prolific artist in oils and porcelain painting and a master seamstress capable of sewing perfectly fitted dresses from sight. In more recent years, her beautiful hand-sewn quilts were given to each member of her family and are treasured keepsakes.
Mr. and Mrs. Harris were the much-beloved parents of two daughters, Dixie Lee Billingsley of Atlanta and Concetta (“Connie”) Pitcher of Huntsville, Ala. Mrs. Harris was always happiest when surrounded by her family that grew over the years to include five grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild of all ages.
She was recognized and revered as the family matriarch who had quiet wisdom, patience, and incisive humor.
Mrs. Harris was featured in story about her life in the June issue of The East Tennessee Catholic newspaper. She had been recognized by the Gerontology Research Group as the oldest known living person in Tennessee, the second oldest known living person in the United States, and the eighth oldest living person in the world.
Mrs. Harris was laid to rest beside her beloved husband at Forest Hill Memorial Park in Lexington, N.C., on Aug. 30 in a final gathering of her beloved family.