Kathryn Puckett Harris

Abingdon, VA- Mrs. Kathryn Puckett Harris, age 102, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, November 30, 2014. She was born in Carroll County, Virginia (on what is now the Blue Ridge Parkway) on July 28, 1912, daughter of Falus and Mabel Puckett. While a child, Kathryn and her siblings attended a one-room school house on the mountain. This school only provided education through the eighth grade, so she later attended high school in Laurel Fork. This experience instilled in Kathryn a life-long love of reading and keeping up with current affairs. She was very proud of the fact that she voted in every local and national election from the time she was allowed to vote up until the elections this past November. As a young woman, Kathryn moved to Mt. Airy, NC to begin work; this is where she met J. C. Harris, Jr., whom she married on January 1, 1937. They moved with their young family to Abingdon in 1943 when J. C. was transferred as manager of Kroger. In the early 1960s, Kathryn started working in the box office at Barter Theatre while Robert Porterfield was Artistic Director. She held this position for many years until her retirement in the late 1970s. Kathryn had a great love of gardening, raising a large vegetable garden for many years and planting many beautiful flowers around her home each year. She was a member of the Holston Hills Extension Homemaker's Club where she made many friends and enjoyed hosting a club meeting once a year in her home. She also cherished her membership in Abingdon United Methodist Church since 1943. Kathryn enjoyed dancing and listening to different types of music, especially country music. As long as she was able, she loved attending the annual Puckett reunions on the mountain, where family members would “make music” and share wonderful meals together. Family was precious to Kathryn, and the highlight of her week would be regular phone calls and visits from her large extended family. Those who knew and loved Kathryn, or Granny, appreciated her sweet disposition, wisdom and wit. She brought joy to many and will be dearly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband J.C., who died in 2003; brothers Serle, Maynard and Paul; sisters Olla, Evelyn (her twin), Audrey, Nina and Geraldine; and her granddaughter Paige Fletcher. Survivors include her children: Vicki Harris Fletcher of Abingdon; Barbara H. Farris and husband David of Abingdon; Gloria J. Harris of Charlotte, NC and Abingdon; and Jason C. Harris III and wife Judy of Abingdon; one brother, Rev. Rayton Puckett of Hillsville, VA; grandchildren Kim Farris Luke, David Farris II, Kelly Farris, Brooke Harris Bunn, Jason C. Harris IV, and Jennifer Harris Rector; seventeen great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service for Kathryn Puckett Harris will held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 4, 2014, at Abingdon United Methodist Church with the Rev. Robert Countiss and the Rev. Rayton Puckett officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Hills Memory Gardens. Active pallbearers will be David Farris II, Kelly Farris, Jason Harris IV, Mark Farris, Caleb Farris, Bob Luke, James Bunn II, and Jason Rector. Honorary pallbearers will be nurses and staff of Hometown Hospice and Home Nursing Service, Dr. Alison Whitman, and special caregivers Peggy Mabe, Nancy Reese and Betsy Warden. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, December 3, 2014, from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Forest Hills Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, VA. Flowers will be welcome, and the family suggests memorial contributions to Abingdon United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 101 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, or to Ecumenical Faith in Action, Crisis Assistance Fund, P.O. Box 2419, Abingdon, VA 24212. Those wishing to share memories or express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com. Kathryn Puckett Harris and her family are in the care of Farris Cremation and Funeral Center, 19415 Lee Highway, Abingdon, VA 24210 (276-623-2700).