Former Enterprise-Leader Editor Passes Away

Patricia “Pat” Ridling Harris, a former editor for the Washington County Enterprise-Leader, passed away peacefully October 25, 2018, at Willard Walker Hospice in Fayetteville, Ark., at the age of 75. She was born April 19, 1943, in Prescott, Ark., to William Lee and Lela Faye Biggs Ridling.

She was former managing editor at Hope Star, White River Valley News in Elkins and the Enterprise-Leader. As managing editor of the Hope Star during the presidency of Bill Clinton, Harris traveled to Washington, D.C., to interview President Clinton and also interviewed President Clinton’s mother, Virginia Kelley. Harris worked for 18 years at the Hope

Star and was managing editor for 12 years. She joined the Enterprise-Leader staff in February

2011.

Harris received more than 70 awards during her 30-year newspaper career for feature writing, news business and education coverage, column writing, front page design and photo page design. She loved politics and was always eager to discuss her political views with all who would listen to her.

Harris is survived by a daughter, Sherry Williams of Fayetteville; two sons, Christopher Polk of Fayetteville and David Randall Polk of Little Rock; brothers, Bill and Mike Ridling of Prescott; granddaughter, Anastasia Polk Young of Fayetteville; grandsons, Jordan Polk of Fayetteville and Brandon Williams of Burnswick, Ga.; great-grandchildren, Jaylah Polk of Fayetteville and Hayden Brown of Shertz, Texas; and her faithful dog, Chewy.

A graveside service was held Sunday, October 28, 2018, at Liberty Cemetery with Brother Neal Ridling officiating. Services were under the direction of the Herndon-Fuqua Funeral Home of Prescott.

To sign the online guestbook, www.herndonfuquafuneralhomes.com.

Harris