Una Ellie Smith Harris
Una Ellie Smith was born April 24, 1912 (the year of the Titanic) west of Ryan, Oklahoma, on the farm of her grandparents Mack and Jodie Hughes. She departed this life at the age of 102 on October 17, 2014, at Jefferson County Hospital.
Una enjoyed a happy farm childhood with her grandparents and parents, Egbert and Ellie Hughes Smith, in the Red River Valley. She could still remember "going west"--to Plainview, Texas--with her family by covered wagon in 1916. They soon returned to the Ryan area, where she'd live the rest of her life.
In 1931, she graduated from Irving High School, where she was celebrated for her beauty, charm and musical talent. She also attended Draughon's Business College.
On Easter Sunday, April Fool's Day of 1934, Una married the handsome piano-player Russell Harris. They were the first couple married in the Irving Baptist Church. She was active in the Irving Church and Community as musician, piano teacher and Sunday school teacher, and worked hard as a farm wife and homemaker. She was a devoted and loving mother to her three sons--Joe, Glen and Jon. Una later worked as a stenographer at the Department of Public Welfare in Waurika.
In 1961, Una and Russell moved into Ryan. They eventually joined the Ryan Baptist Church. After retiring, Una devoted herself to friends and family, gardening, church activities, reading and music. Most especially she enjoyed a lively and humor-filled companionship with Russell until his death in 2001.
Una continued throughout her later years, even as she approached and passed the century mark, to be gracious, joyful, articulate, witty, musical and beautiful.
Una is survived by sons Glen of Wills Point, Texas, and Jon (Debbie Golata) of Berkeley, California; by grandchildren Melody (Russell) Stewart, Leisha (Michael) Justus, and Glenna (Mike) Williams; great-grandchildren Shawna (Richard) Hobbs, Aleise and Christopher Cowsert, and Kevin and Ben Williams; great-great grandsons Kael Harris and Jayden Hathaway; also a number of very special nieces, nephews and cousins, and a dear friend and "aunt" Lena Hughes and her son Mack (Anita).
Una was preceded in death by her husband Russell, son Joe (and wife Carol), daughter-in-law Pat Harris, grandson Rusty Harris, and by her parents and her five brothers.
Funeral Service will be Monday, October 20, 2014 at 2:00PM at the Irving Baptist Church. Visitation will be Sunday from 1-6PM and Monday from 9AM-noon at Dudley Funeral Home in Ryan. (612 Washington). Memorials may be made to Irving Baptist Church.