In the early hours of January 12, 2017, our beloved mother, grandmother and aunt, Glenna Verna Harris, slipped away from her earthly home, without making a fuss about her departure. Glenna was born July 12, 1924 and was raised on a farm in Mayer Township, Carver County, Minnesota. She was the daughter of William and Emma Petrick Schroeder. Glenna was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and in recent years was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Yakima. As a child, she loved attending school, making friends, learning the 3R’s and how big the world was that she wanted to explore. As a teenager, Glenna would imagine that one day she could be a fashion model, so she copied the women who modeled clothing and how they would stand or how they held their hands… then she would giggle at the very idea. When Glenna was sixteen, she played the accordion and proudly proclaimed that she was part of a 3 piece band who played on the local radio station. In 1941 Glenna landed her first paying job working at the College Café Soda Fountain in St. Cloud, Minnesota and in later years she would chuckle that she was given the nickname of Queenie at the Café. In 1941 she worked as a machinist on the Button Lathe in Minneapolis. With youth and a sense of adventure, Glenna and her older sister, Adeline traveled across the United States, applying for and working odd jobs such as hostessing at the Grey Hound bus stations, waitressing, cashiering, bookkeeping and a telephone operator. Heading to the west coast in 1943, Glenna landed the job of installing canvas on fighter plane wings in Los Angeles. In 1946 Glenna worked at Arden’s Ice Cream factory and was a part time waitress in Arden’s Ice Cream Parlor where she served ice cream to her husband to be, James Harris. They were married April 21, 1946 in Yuma, Arizona and in 2006 they quietly celebrated 60 years together at their home. Glenna was an accomplished pianist and a talented homemaker who enjoyed gardening and creating needlework. James was an engineer with the Corps of Army Engineers where his work took the family to Montana, Texas, Oregon, Idaho, and finally retiring in Washington, where they fell in love with the Yakima area.

Preceding her in death are her parents; sisters: Gertrude (age 2), Ella Loehrs, Adeline Pifer, Clarinda Templin, and Wilma Swigart; brothers: Martin, Elmer, Ewald, Wilbert, Harold, Irvin, and Clarence; her husband, James M. Harris; grandson, Allen E. Boudreaux; and granddaughter Brenda Sue Harris. Surviving is her daughter, Linda (James) Dyjak; son, Bruce W. (Pamela) Harris; grandson, John Boudreaux; granddaughter, Sheila Warden; great granddaughters: Brittany Tackett, Destiny Warden, and Julieanne Boudreaux; sister-in-law Irene Schroeder; and many nieces and nephews.

Her laughter and giggles are silenced now, and we’ll always remember her for her beautiful smile, quick wit and sparkling green eyes. Her loving spirit and open arms will be missed forever.

If roses grow in heaven, Lord, pick a bunch for me,

Place them in my mother’s arms, and tell her, they’re from me.

Tell her that I love and miss her, and when she turns to smile,

Place a kiss upon her cheek and hold her for a while.

Remembering her is easy, I do it every day,

But there is an ache within my Heart that will never go away.

A family memorial service is planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers or gifts, memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice. Arrangements were made by Shaw & Sons Funeral Directors. Thanks to Stacey and Robert Wilson, Glenna’s care givers.

Yakima Herald Republic, Yakima, WA February 16, 2017