Cheryl A. Harris

Cheryl “Cherri” A. Harris, 75, of Highland Village, TX, died on Friday, May 7, 2021, at Baylor Scott & White Heart Hospital, Plano, TX. Her husband of 51 years, Alan, was by her side. She was blessed to be with her three daughters during her final days.

The Rite of Committal burial service will be held Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 10:30 a.m., at St. Anthony Catholic Cemetery, Streator, IL. The cemetery is located on ground formerly farmed by her family for several generations. The Vigil Service was held on May 16 at Mulkey-Mason funeral home, Lewisville, TX. The Funeral Liturgy was held on May 17, 2021, at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, 1897 West Main Street, Lewisville, TX 75067.

The Solon-Telford Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.

Cherri was born in Streator, IL, on March 13, 1946. She grew up in a farming town, where her parents built a home with doors open to friends and family. Her cousins were just a corn field or two away with whom she played, and they and her siblings attended a one room country school in the early grades. Cherri had a love for animals that started with her many pets and involvement in 4-H. Throughout her life, her pets were some of her best pals who left paw prints on her heart.

After graduating from Streator High School in 1964, she ventured off to Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, to major in Education, graduating in 1970. There she met the love her life, Alan Harris. They married in 1969 and eventually moved to the Chicago suburbs where they raised their family in Bloomingdale, IL. Cherri chose to stay home to raise her girls, Holly, Heather and Mandy. She was very involved with the girls’ activities, and often joked that she was a personal taxicab service. Her selflessness allowed her children to flourish in their various endeavors, always knowing that mom would be there to support them. Cherri was active in the parent teacher organization (PTO) advocating for important issues and eventually serving as Winnebago Elementary School PTO president. As the children got older, she began working in the office at the Marquardt Middle School.

In 1989, Alan’s employer relocated to Irving, TX, and the family settled in Highland Village. Relocation brought a whole new adventure for the Harris family, and Cherri encouraged her family through the transition. She and Alan bought the girls cowboy boots and cowboy hats, and they settled in for Texas life. In Texas, she served the Lewisville Independent School District as a substitute teacher for a year and then, from 1991-2009 she was an Attendance Clerk serving at Lakeland Elementary, DeLay Middle School, and Degan Elementary. She enjoyed her coworkers, friends, and the many children she watched blossom.

Some of Cherri’s best times were spent with sister and brother-in-law, Ginny and Chuck Tutko. The families were inseparable as their three sons and her daughters played and created imaginative projects such as making a fort high in the old barn, while she and her sister would bake and the men would farm or “hang out” in the shop. Later, annual summer trips to Branson MO and Christmas Holidays back in Illinois were reunions full of joy.

Cherri enjoyed a vast network of friends from childhood, college, coworkers, neighbors from “Westlake” in Bloomingdale, IL, neighbors from Highland Village, and special “Nifty” friends, and family. All enjoyed her wry sense of humor and kind, sweet spirit.

She loved sports. This passion started when, as a young girl, her father would take her to college basketball games. She could keep pace with her son-in-laws in any discussion on current athletics and the NCAA basketball tournament was her favorite.

Cherri’s quiet faith was always with her, passed down by her mother and grandmother who were members at the former St. Anthony Catholic Church in Streator, IL. Her involvement with the Catholic church included teaching Religious Education and serving as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Isidore Catholic Church in Bloomingdale, IL. In Texas, she served at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church as a Eucharistic Minister, office helper, Friendly Visitor to elderly homebound, and Linen Laundry ministry. Cherri was also a Sir Knights Lady supporting her husband’s involvement in the Knights of Columbus. She was genuinely committed to her faith and to her family. She was LOVED.

Most of all, Cherri loved being a mother and grandmother. She was exceptional in caring for and instilling love with her daughters and grandchildren, taking an active interest in every detail of their lives. Celebrating special events and holiday traditions meant the world to her. Baking cookies and making the family cinnamon roll recipe with the grandkids was the highlight of every holiday. She was the most selfless, giving, and strong mother there ever could be. She gave her daughters magical childhoods filled with love. Her example and inspiration lives on in them today.

Cherri was preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Vera Stasell; twin daughters, Monica Kathleen and Leanne Marie Harris; and brother, Ronald Stasell. Surviving are her husband, Alan of Highland Village, TX; three daughters, Holly (Kern) Nandan of La Grange, IL, Heather (Adam) Rossow of Flower Mound, TX, and Amanda “Mandy” (Stuart) Bauld of Austin, TX; six grandchildren, Harris and Lila Nandan, Joshua and Tate Rossow, and Annie and Braden Bauld; sister, Virginia “Ginny” (Charles) Tutko of Streator, IL; cousins, Jack Tucker and Sandy Bodie of Darien and Wheaton, IL , and Randy (Lynne) Baumrucker and Janice Wachowski of Streator, IL; sister-in- law and spouse’s brother-in-law, John (Mary) Geraghty of Goodyear, AZ; and many nieces and nephews.

Cherri delighted in seeing the building progress on the new church and was looking forward to its completion. At her request, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Philip Together in Christ Campaign (the new building fund) in her memory.

May our Lord embrace Cheryl Harris in the glories of Heaven, and may her memory be a blessing.

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Committal

St. Anthony's Cemetery

Saturday June 19th, 2021

10:30am

Streator, IL 61364

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