It is with heavy hearts that the family announces the peaceful passing of their mother, Margaret Evelyn Harris, on February 21, 2025, one month short of her 97th birthday.
She was born in 1928, the oldest of five children born to Victor and Pearl Blunt, and raised on the Townline Road and the Hurkett Loop. At the age of 10, she lost her mother to polio. She attended school in the one-room school house in Hurkett and Prospect Avenue School in Port Arthur. In her late teens, she was employed at Lovelady's Camera Shop, where she worked tinting pictures. In 1946, she married Arthur Harris, and they settled in Dorion, where together, they raised eight children. For many years, she and Dad looked after the Dorion Post Office. She also worked at Dawson Court Home for the Aged, and at the Dorion Fish Hatchery.
Mom was deeply committed to community service, a quality she has passed on to her children and grandchildren. Over many years, she served on the Nipigon Red Rock Board of Education, Nipigon Waterways, the Pinewood Court Home for the Aged Board, the Friends of Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park, and the Township of Dorion where she was a councillor for many years. She was also greatly involved in the Dorion Recreation Committee and the Dorion Fire Department, where she manned the fire phone for 28 years, notifying all the volunteer firefighters when a call came in.
At the age of 94, she found it very hard to leave the home she and Art built in 1960 as well as her many friends, but she moved to a senior's apartment at Sister Leila Greco, where she resided until the time of her passing. The family would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the PSWs and staff who helped our mother while she was there. A special thank you as well to Dr. Christian O'Brien for his excellent care of mom over the past few years.
Mom was very involved in her community, and will be remembered for the wedding dresses and costumes she made, the meals she catered, and the thousands of marigolds she planted. She was especially proud of being part of the formation of the Seniors 55+ Club in Dorion. She particularly loved time with her grandchildren, and was known for her special hugs and her candy dish.
She was predeceased by her husband Arthur; her daughter Carol; her sons Scott, Ross, Allan and Glen; her daughter-in-law Helen; her granddaughter Natalie and her great-grandson Dawson; her parents Victor and Pearl; her sister Ilene; and her brothers Eric, Reginald and Eugene. She is survived by her daughter Betty (Ed), son Donald (Margit), and son Keith (Susan); daughters-in-law Lee, Yvonne and Debbie; son-in-law Rick; 19 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson. Many other family members also survive.
Cremation has taken place, and a celebration of her life will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cardiac Unit at TBRHSC would be greatly appreciated.
Condolences may be made through www.nwfainc.com
