LORENE HARRIS-DEBENHAM

ABILENE – Lorene Harris-Debenham, 92, died Tuesday at Abilene Memorial Hospital. She was born Ella Lorene Mourer on Feb. 22, 1924 to Owen and Allie (Derrick) Mourer on the family farm south of Abilene. She graduated from Dickinson County Community High School in Chapman with the Class of 1942 and attended nursing school in Wichita. On July 18, 1944 she married Bill M. Harris in Kansas City and they farmed south of Abilene. He preceded her in death on April 14, 2002. She married Harold Debenham on July 14, 2004 in Alaska, and he preceded her in death on March 20, 2014. Lorene sold Avon and Amway before establishing Harris Crop Insurance in 1981; she retired in 1999. She was a member of the New Basel United Church of Christ and its Women’s Fellowship, and taught Sunday School for several years.After retiring in Abilene, she joined the First United Methodist Church. She also was a member of the Dickinson County Historical Society and the Dickinson County Rural Life club, belonged to a Home Demonstration Unit, and served as a 4H sewing project leader. In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Marilyn Johnson, a brother, Wayne Mourer, a son-in-law, Richard Voran, and a grandson, Shaylan Voran. Surviving are five children, Kathy Voran of Palmer, Alaska, Pat Harris (Marilyn Klaus) of Lenexa, Brian (Cecilia) Harris of Abilene, Karen (Bob) Conrad of Mahomet, Ill., and Kevin (Rosemary) Harris of Abilene; 14 grandchildren, Parrin (Sharon) Voran of Soldotna, Ak., Carlon (Brandey) Voran of Port Alsworth, Ak., Theron Voran of Austin, Tx., Elissa Harris (Damon Klassen) of Taos, N.M., Ethan (Robyn Hartvickson) Harris of Newton, Mitch (Kylee) Harris of Manhattan, Kyle (Ashley) Harris of Lenexa, Alex Harris of Fort Worth, Tx., Kaitlyn Conrad (fiancé Joe Giacomo) of Pinckneyville, Ill., Andrew Conrad of Mahomet, Ill., Sam (Nicole) Shrack of Abilene, Greg Harris of Lyons, Emily Harris of Manhattan, and Natalie Harris of Abilene, and 10 great-grandchildren, Keanu (Hailey) Voran, Dakota Voran, Austina, Voran, Coleson Voran, Malea Voran and Alianna Voran of Alaska, Riley and Ada Harris-Hartvickson of Newton, Brycen Harris of Manhattan, and Axie Shrack of Abilene, two sisters-in-law, Mary Jane (Harris) Kresie of Topeka and Jean Mourer of California, and five stepchildren, Steven (Shelly) Debenham, David (Glenda) Debenham, Patty Anderson, Barbara Morton and Sharon (Tim) Burt, and their families. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Abilene First United Methodist Church, with Pastors John and Jenny Collins officiating. Burial will follow in the Abilene Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Danner Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Abilene First United Methodist Church, New Basel United Church of Christ, or the Dickinson County Historical Society.