Mary A. (McKinley) Harris
Marriages
Palmer Peterson
Maurice Nash
Eugene Hanlon
J. Welland Jeffers - August 16, 1945
Max J. Harris - April 20, 1996
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D - November 2, 2012
Mary Harris completed her journey
in this life on November 28,
2012, after a valiant effort to recover
from a broken hip suffered
in a fall while on vacation at Lake
Havasu, Arizona. She was being
cared for at Hospice Care Center
in Grand Junction, Colorado and
passed away peacefully at 98
years of age.
Her birth occurred in Mendota, Missouri, as the youngest of four
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert McKinley. When Mary was
about four years of age, the family moved to Cedaredge, Colorad o.
Her mother passed away the following year.
At about age six, Mary was adopted by loving adopted parents,
Jesse and Myrtle Cooper. She attended school in Delta, Colorado ,
and graduated from Delta High School. She then attended college
and became a registered nurse. Practicing in the health field brought
her joy and satisfaction, especially by being in attendance at the
birth of numerous babies.
While working as a nurse at the Delta Hospital, she cared for J.
Welland Jeffers, a prominent Delta County rancher and businessman,
who was also involved in many civil matters. They fell in love
and were married August 16, 1945, and enjoyed 19 wonderful, busy
years together. Both were blessed with good singing voices and sang
together in church choirs on both Saturday and Sunday for many
years. Mary loved music and directed the choir at Delta Seventh
Day Adventist Church for several years. She was a devout Christian
and remained true to her Seventh Day Adventist Faith all her life.
While living a few years in Las Vegas, Nevada, she always maintained
a home near Cedaredge, and returned to live there in 1987. In
1991, she moved to Grand Junction.
Mary outlived four husbands, J. Welland Jeffers, Palmer Peterson,
Maurice Nash, and Eugene Hanlon. She was a loving companion to
each. On April 20, 1996, she married Max J. Harris. They enjoyed
16 precious years together. In the last three or four years, although
otherwise in good physical shape, she was nearly blind and suffered
from Alzheimer’s Disease. Max faithfully and lovingly cared for her
in their home.
Mary was preceded in death by her natural parents; her adoptive
parents, and her siblings, Rose Garrison, Edith Pearson, and Thomas
McKinley. She is survived by her nieces, Joanne Jones and
Dana James, and nephews, Ronald Garrison and Robert Garrison.
She is also survived by numerous step-children, step-grand,
great-grand, and great-great-grandchildren whom she showered with
affection. She will also be missed by her white Maltese, ten year old
doggie, Zse Zse.
In short, Mary was a gracious, charming lady, who was blessed
with the love and admiration of many friends and relatives. Their
lives were enriched by her.
Graveside services are scheduled at 2:00 p.m., Monday, December
3, 2012, at Delta City Cemetery, 1055 E. 3rd Street, Delta, Colorado.
Arrangements are being made by Callahan-Edfast Mortuary. In lieu
of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice & Pal -
liative Care of Western Colorado 3090B North 12th St., Grand
Junction, CO 81506.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6B - November 30, 2012
Mary (Jeffers) Harris, 98, Grand Junction, died Nov. 27,
2012, at Hospice Care Center. Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday
at Delta City Cemetery.Mrs. Harris was a registered nurse.
Survivors include her husband, Max J.
