Obituary of Barbara Stephenson Harris

On February 7, 2020, Barbara Stephenson Harris, of Tumwater, went to live with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  After 14 years of cancer, she is now pain-free, without struggles, joyful beyond all measure. 

Barbara was born in 1938, in Chicago.  In 1945, her parents, Bob and Helen Stephenson, brought her and her brothers to live in Vacaville, California.  She graduated from Vacaville High School, Stanford University, and received a Masters at the University of North Alabama.

In 1963, she married American army officer Bill Harris, with whom she moved several times while caring for their four children.  Her life was educational—living in several different states, Korea, and Germany.  She loved music, and sang in dozens of church choirs and in Sweet Adelines.  Barbara was an avid sports fan—one of the original Seahawks fans, the Mariners, and Sonics.  Stanford football was her PAC-12 favorite and, in her last few years, Stanford basketball was her passion. 

She loved her children very much; her life revolved around them as they were growing up. 

Preceding her in death were her son, Jeff; and her parents.  Her family consists of her living children, Steve Harris, Katie (Harris) and Chris Waldron, Kari (Harris) and Leon Lim; her grandchildren, Brittany Harris, Ryan and Nicole Waldron, and Taylor and Aaron Lim; her two brothers, Kim (and Nancy) Stephenson of Davis, California, and Don Stephenson of Sacramento, California. 

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2020, 2:00 p.m. at Hope Community Church, 2425 Black Lake Blvd. SW, Olympia, WA 98512.

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