Harris, Mary Ann

Mary Ann Harris, 75, of Iowa City, died Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012, at the Iowa City Rehabilitation and Health Care Center from complications of brain surgery. Funeral services in conjunction with Rebekah Lodge Memorial services will begin at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Private Burial services will follow at the North Scott Cemetery (Brick Chapel), near Iowa City. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Mary Ann's memory to the Fraternal Order of Eagles c/o Diabetes Research Center or to the charity of the donor's choice.

Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web at .

Mary Ann Douglass was born Dec. 1, 1936, in Iowa City, the daughter of Lee and Viola (Stevens) Douglass. She attended country grade school at Scott #2 (Carthage), and graduated from West Branch High School in 1955. After high school, she worked for the United Fire and Casualty Company in Cedar Rapids, and later in Minneapolis, Minn. While in Minneapolis, she married Thomas E. Harris on Dec. 1, 1962. The couple returned to Iowa City, where she worked for ACT and then Heinz Distribution Center. When Heinz left Iowa City she worked for Blooming Prairie and she retired from Harris Discount, a store she and her husband owned and operated.

She was a 57 year member of the Rebekah Lodge, of the I.O.O.F., a member of Good Samaritan Encampment Auxiliary, on the state level she was a past president of the Rebekah Assembly of Iowa and was currently serving as treasurer of this. This year she was installed as High Priestess of the Grand Ladies Encampment Auxiliary of Iowa. She was also a long time member of the F. O. E auxiliary, serving as a past president and secretary of the local auxiliary. This year she was serving as president of REACT, the Retired Eagle's Activity Club. She was also very busy with Wednesday night bingo and baking pies for the event.

Mary Ann was involved in many other organizations, the Old-timers Racing Club, and several social groups of the I.O.O.F. She had a love for life, besides her family, she loved auto racing (Dale Earnhardt) in the past and was a fan of NASCAR. Mary Ann loved country music, dancing, a good game of cards, and of course cheering on our beloved Iowa Hawkeyes! We're all going to miss her!

Her family includes her husband of nearly 50 years, Tom; sister and her husband, Peg and Bob Allen; nephew, Don Allen; three great-nieces, Kelly Vrana, Cassie Allen and Carly Allen; great-nephew, Tom Allen; two great-great nieces, Ava Vrana and Kalynn Hanson; also many other nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, great-great-nieces and nephews; and brother-in-law and his family, Jack Harris of Center Point; sister-in-law and her family, Lucille Walters of Cedar Rapids; and nephew and his family, Jim Harris.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents.

Published in The Gazette Feb. 21, 2012.