Connie Jean Harris

Connie Jean Bauer was born on February 14, 1950, in Spokane, Washington, to Winnie Mae Anderson and Dale Horace Bauer ,both of Wilbur, Washington. She entered into heaven on Thursday, February 18, 2016, at the age of 66.

As a young child, she grew up on the Rettkowski ranch where her father was a ranch hand. This is where she acquired her love for all kinds of animals. Around the age of six, she and her family moved into town, where she attended Wilbur School from kindergarten to 12th grade. This is where she met her high school sweetheart and future husband, Jim Harris. She graduated from Wilbur in 1968. Connie attended some college in Yakima and at EWU and was employed by Round Up Company while in Spokane.

In 1973 she and Jim were married at the Community Presbyterian Church in Wilbur. They then moved to Seattle while Jim finished dental school and Connie worked for Pacific Trail. After Jim was finished with school, he joined the Army and they moved to Fort Riley, Kansas, for a year, then Germany for three years. While in Germany, Connie helped teach at the preschool on base. All of their free time was spent traveling Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Holland and England. They met many great friends on their adventures and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. When Jim's service obligations were completed, they happily moved back to their hometown of Wilbur and Jim set up his dental practice. Connie worked for many years helping with the Miss Wilbur Pageant and the Girl Scouts. She was also a lifetime member of the Community Presbyterian Church.

In 1985, they were fortunate enough to adopt their first child, a daughter, Sydney Nicole, and in 1988, a son, Keegan James. Connie took great pleasure in watching them grow up. She was a wonderful and loving mother who went above and beyond for her children. Connie was later blessed with three grandsons from her daughter Sydney: Xavier (9), Lakota (5) and Kashis (4). She has her first granddaughter on the way and due in April. Being "Nana" was the most precious thing in her life and she loved every second she was able to spend with the boys.

Connie was a true "free spirit" in her views of people, colors, and décor. In her free time, she enjoyed shopping and loved to try her luck at the casino. She had an open door policy for several Keller children throughout the years and thought of them as her own. Many of the children spent anywhere from a weekend to a year with the Harris family and looked to Connie as a second mother. She would strike up a conversation with a stranger and know their entire life story within ten minutes. She was a friend to many and loved them all dearly. In Connie's mind, children and dogs could do no wrong. She was a lifetime contributor to the ASPCA and the Christian Children's Fund.

Donations can be made in memory of Connie to either the Wilbur Swimming Pool Fund or the Community Presbyterian Church.

She is survived by her husband, Jim Harris; daughter, Sydney Harris; son, Keegan Harris; and grandsons: Xavier, Lakota and Kashis; and her sister, Nancy (Chuck) Williamson. She also has many nieces and nephews and extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Winnie and Dale Bauer.

There will be a graveside and celebration of life memorial in late April in order to accommodate close family who will be out of town.

Please watch for a notice in the paper at a later date. Services for Connie are being handled by Strate Funeral Home.