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Loretta Pearl Harris, 85, of Berryville passed away peacefully on December 8, 2022, at Autumn Hill nursing facility in Berryville.
Granny Loretta, as she was known to her family, le_ this earthly abode on her way to a joyful reunion with Christ Jesus and the family she loved in Heaven.
Born Loretta Pearl Bailey on January 23, 1937, to Elmer Bailey and Esther Lorene McKinney Bailey of Berryville, she was the 3rd of seven children. While attending the School of the Ozarks, Loretta met and married the love of her life, John Henry Harris, to whom she was married for 59 years. While John served in the U.S. Navy, Loretta dedicated herself to homemaking and raising the couple’s three children. When stationed in Memphis, TN, Loretta worked as secretary for the American Red Cross. While John was in Vietnam, Loretta attended the Beauty College in Virginia Beach and obtained her license in Cosmetology and then managed the Beauty Shop at the Navy Exchange at NAS Meridian. A_er John retired from the Navy, “Lo,” as she was known to John and her friends, owned and operated Loretta’s Beauty Shop in Berryville for 27 years, blessing her clients with her skills as a beautician, along with her big stories and even bigger smiles.
Loretta’s zest for life was evident to all who knew her, but she was most in her element when playing hostess to family and friends. She maintained a long tradition of hosting her family at Christmas, showing her love and devotion with extra special treats and decorations. She delighted in fooling her family with her zany Christmas guessing game in which everyone received some bizarre household gadget with no packaging or instructions and had to gure out its use.
She was perhaps most enthusiastic about hosting a birthday party for Jesus every year at her church, sharing her smiles, her Christmas cheer, and her deep and steadfast love for Christ with many generations of children at Moore Church, where she was a faithful member. Second only to her faith was her love for her family, especially for her grandchildren and great-children, who all have fond memories of time spent traveling with or visiting Granny Loretta and Grandpa John.
Loretta Harris is survived by her son and daughter-inlaw, Dr. Doug and Debbie Harris of Conway; daughter- in-law, LaDonna Harris of Dallas, TX; son-in-law, Charlie Jones of Montgomery, AL; grandchildren, Chandra Anderson of Green Forest; Erik Gibson (Heather) of Keystone Heights, FL; Jimmy Harris (Janet) of Conway; Jordan Harris of Dallas, TX; Joshua Harris of Dallas, TX; great-grandchildren, Ashley Williamson, Aaron Wisdom, Kristen Meadors, Jaelyn Dodrill, Skylar Jones, Nicholas Jones II, Brady Gibson, Bailey Harris, Evan Jones, and Braylon Gibson; great-great-grandchildren, Adelyn, Carson, Kylee Jo, Jackson, Ruston, Amelia, Aria, and Coulter; sister Reena, and many extended family members, loving friends, and caregivers.
Loretta was preceded in death and reunited in Heaven with her parents, Elmer and Lorene; her beloved husband, John; her daughter, Gayla Suzann Jones; her son, Dr. John Linden Harris; her grandson, Nicholas Jones; her brothers, Rich and Jim; and her sisters, Sarah Joan, Vivian and a twin siste,r Janetta.
To celebrate and remember Loretta’s life, the family will host a visitation on rsday, December 15, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. at Nelson Funeral Service in Berryville. Funeral service at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 16, 2022, at Moore Church in Berryville with Dr. Doug Harris and Pastor Kenneth Booth o_ciating. Interment will follow at Moore cemetery. In lieu of _owers, memorials may be directed to Dementia Society of America or Gideons International. Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service. Online condolences may be sent to the family at nelsonfuneral.com.
