Mary Ann Harris

Memorial services celebrating the life of Mary Ann Harris, 75, of DeWitt, and formerly of Davenport, will be held at 11 am on Friday, August 25, 2023, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2136 N. Brady St, Davenport. The family will receive friends from 9-11 until the time of services at the church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to organizations dear to Ann:  Hope at the Brick House, Project for Teens, or St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Ann passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, at her home on Sunday, August 20, 2023. Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, is assisting the family. Mary Ann Nagle was born January 2, 1948, in Davenport, the oldest of ten children born to John Edward and Mary Modesta (nee Monning) Nagle. She was a graduate of Assumption High School and Marycrest College, with a degree in social work. During her senior year in college, she married Edward “Ted” Harris on December 27, 1969 in Davenport. Their 53 years of marriage was a powerful example to their children and grandchildren. Ann and Ted raised their four children in Davenport, moved to Menomonie, WI for 18 years, and then returned to the Davenport area.

Ann deeply loved, and was devoted to, her family. She was proud of her children and grandchildren, and delighted in family gatherings, especially around the holidays.   Many a cold spring or autumn would find Ann bundled up, watching one of her grandchildren participate in an outdoor sport or activity, braving the elements, because she was their “number one fan.” She never missed a chance to cheer on those she loved.

Ann was a wonderful conversationalist and would regularly engage friends and strangers (soon to be friends) in conversation; she was a willing and attentive listener and had a gift for remembering details and always making you feel as though you were the most important person in the world.  Not uncommonly, a conversation would be followed up with a note of encouragement or simply just to let you know she was thinking of you.  She was known to “pick up on the first ring,” and undoubtedly would drop what she was doing to provide a listening ear.

Ann’s faith was solid; she started each day reciting Psalm 118:24. She had a heart for service and strived to instill these values in her children by demonstrating the importance of welcoming all; holiday gatherings often had an extra guest. Ann greatly enjoyed vacationing in Door County, WI and Arizona and was very proud of her Irish heritage.

Those left to honor her memory include her husband of 53 years and best friend, Ted; son Andrew (Amy) Harris and their children Alec and Anna of Long Grove, IA; daughter Mary Katherine (Chaun) Cox and their children Ethan and Brodie of North Mankato, MN; daughter Ann Elizabeth (Eric) Lee and their children Caleb, Samuel, and Jack of Frankfort, IL; son Sean (Stefanie) Harris and their children Mackenzie and Nolan of Midlothian, VA; nine loving brothers and sisters; and many nieces and nephews; and great nieces and nephews.