ELIZABETH ANN (“BETTY”) BAKER HARRIS
1926-2018
Elizabeth Ann (“Betty”) Baker Harris died on November 24, 2018 in San Diego, at the age of 92, surrounded by her family. She was born on the 26th of September 1926 in Houston, Texas, the youngest of 4 children and the only daughter born to Edna Heflin Baker and Rex Gavin Baker. She is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Rex G. Baker, Jr., Robert Hines Baker, and John Heflin Baker, and her beloved husband George Napier Harris. She is survived by her daughters Margaret Harris Miller and her husband Bill, Sue Harris Smith and her husband Craig Brown, Georgia Baker Harris and her only grandchild, Hannah Harris Smith, numerous nieces and nephews and the wife of her brother, Patty Baker.
Betty, or as she was known by her family and friends, “The General”, attended Lamar High School, Mary Baldwin College and graduated from The University of Texas where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority and a Bluebonnet Belle. A proud Longhorn, she loved football and although she might not have understood all the rules, she was a diehard UT football enthusiast.
Betty and George were married January 27, 1950 and Betty faced the first crisis of her life when she contracted polio in 1954 when Margaret was six months old. She remained in the hospital for almost a year and never complainedshe had an atrophied left leg as a consequence of polio but was able to give birth to Sue two years later.
In Houston, Betty was a charter member of River Oaks Baptist Church. She was also a member of Houston Country Club, the Junior League and Allegro. She also served as a Candy Striper at several hospitals volunteering prior to Margaret’s birth.
Betty and George moved to Texarkana, Texas from 1964-1967 and later returned to Houston where they remained until George’s retirement. Upon retirement, Betty and George moved to Kerrville, Texas so George could be close to the River Hill Country Club golf course. Although a big city gal, Betty made many friends and joined a new bridge club but maintained her annual trip to La Jolla, California with the members of her Houston bridge club. Meanwhile, George worked on his golf game. Betty was a devout Christian and member of First Presbyterian Church of Kerrville where she also served as a Stephen minister and volunteered in Hope’s Kitchen and at Hill Country Youth.
George died in 1990 and afterwards, Betty undertook extensive international travels throughout Europe, South America, Africa and Asia. In 2011 she moved from Kerrville to La Jolla to be closer to two of her daughters, Margaret and Georgia.
The family is grateful to her caregivers, particularly Julie Jaenichen and for her many faithful friends.
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to the Humane Society of the United States, 1255 23rd St., NW, Washington, D.C., 20037, the Hill Country Youth Ranch, P. O. Box 67, Ingram, Texas 78025, or the charity of your choice.
Services will be held at 2nd Baptist Church(6400 Woodway Drive) in Houston, Texas Saturday January 26th at 11:30am in the Chapel. A gathering of friends and family will be held immediately after the service.