Mary Lois Stahr Harris

Mary Lois Stahr Harris, age 91, of Fulton, Missouri, passed away Friday, September 29, 2017. Mrs. Harris was born in Vassar, Osage County, Kansas on May 6, 1926, to William Onslow Stahr and Hilda Rosina Roglitz Stahr. Mrs. Harris attended school in Vassar until 1939, when her family moved to Fulton where she graduated from Fulton Public Schools and William Woods College. Mrs. Harris maintained an active interest in her community throughout her life. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Fulton where she served as an elder, led several committees and taught church school. She travelled to Hungary and Ukraine to visit sister churches, and she hosted Hungarian Reformed Church visitors in Fulton. She served as Secretary to the Director of Ecumenical Ministries and as Interim Director of Ecumenical Ministries between 1970 and 1975. Mrs. Harris volunteered with community health agencies, and she was an advocate for elderly people in the county. Her commitment to health care led to her serving on the board of trustees of Callaway Memorial Hospital and as Chairman of the Board in 1984 when the new hospital was built and dedicated. She served on various other boards including Presbyterian Homes of Missouri, SERVE, Health Systems Agency, Central Missouri Agency on Aging, and volunteered with Community Leaders Assisting the Insured of Missouri, Callaway Memorial Hospital, Callaway Hospice and Community Hospice. Mrs. Harris received the 1996 Award for Community Service, granted by the Board of Associates of Fulton Colleges. On December 15, 1949, Mary Lois Stahr married John Cannon Harris, who preceded her in death. Their three surviving children are Mary Stahr Harris Powers of O'Fallon, Martha Overton Harris of Jefferson City, and John Cannon Harris Jr. of Callaway County. Their son, William Tyre Harris preceded them in death. Their grandchildren are Mary Katherine Powers, Susan Harris Powers Foglesong, James Stanley Hutson, and John Patrick Hutson. Their great-grandsons are John Harris Foglesong and William Fyan Foglesong. Mrs. Harris is survived by one brother, Wilbur Lawrence Stahr. Her brother, Roland Onslow Stahr preceded her in death. A memorial service celebrating the lives of Mary Stahr Harris and John Cannon Harris will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Fulton at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2017.