Dora Lea Harris

Dora Lea Harris was born January 20, 1935, in Pryor, OK to Tina and Dan McCarty. She made her journey to her heavenly home Thursday, December 4, 2025. The woman who was Mom, Grandmother, Great-grandmother, also Great-great grandmother AND co-conspirator was a beautiful woman both inside and out. She maintained that beauty even at 90 years of age. Her kindness showed through despite any difficulties she encountered. She loved her family and Jesus fiercely and wasn't afraid to tell anyone who would listen about both. Her family enjoyed her humor. Her quick wit made it difficult for them to put one over on her. She was sassy and sweet-ornery as could be but also gave the best hugs. Dora enjoyed working on puzzles. The table in the corner of her living room always had a jigsaw puzzle in progress. In addition, stacks of word finds and sudoku's sat stored under the tables. She loved playing Bingo and hoarded piles of "bingo bucks" that she won. She loved gardening and adorned her yard with azaleas, a variety of iris, tiger lilies, crepe myrtles and she grew several different types and colors of roses. Her talents included dress making, reupholstering furniture, and crafting dolls for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. Dora grew up with five siblings. She was a middle child. Her favorite childhood home was a home on the outskirts of Pryor where she roamed the countryside and climbed trees. She recalls bathing in the creek. She is survived by her youngest sibling, her brother Danny McCarty, also affectionately known as her "jackass brother," and his wife Vida McCarty. Dora married Ansel Harris on July 19, 1952, and was married 54 years before he made his own journey home. They enjoyed bowling and belonged to a league for many years. They both had a ninth-grade education but after their children were grown they went back to school together and earned their GEDs. Probably one of their favorite seasons in their lives was when they started their own small business escorting oversized trucks and equipment. It afforded them the opportunity to travel all over the U.S., and they enjoyed their working vacations. They were blessed with five children, 16 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren. As a mom, Dora maintained a sense of gratitude for her family and often told her children, "I raised a bunch of good kids." Of course, if they were ornery, it was their dad's fault. The "bunch of good kids" included Gloria and Roger Baumann; Brenda and Michael Layne; Gary Harris; Shirley and Billy Fullick; Shawn and Katie Harris. Grandma Dora adored all her children and grandchildren as her favorites. She apparently indulged the grands quite a bit. In their adult years, stories emerged about illicit coffee drinking, eating Lucky Charm marshmallows out of the box and excessive trips to McDonalds. Her co-conspirators were: Michelle and Dave Baker; Andrea and Dave Hauenstein; Alison Ingram and Charles; Daniel Baumann; Abi Baumann; Brandi and Chuck Bradley; Travis Harris and Lauren; Kelsey and Justin Elswick; William and Jayme Fullick; Stephanie Fullick; Emilie and Thomas Johnson; Brittany and Josh Rice; Amanda and Grant Ross; Jillian Harris and Addie and Silas Honnold. The Celebration of Life service for Dora Lea Harris is Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Moore Southlawn Chapel; 9350 E. 51st St. Tulsa, OK. 74145 Graveside service held at Fort Gibson National Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. 1423 Cemetery Rd., Fort Gibson, OK 74434.

Dora Lea Harris

January 20, 1935 - December 4, 2025