Arlene O. Harris, 85, of Douglass, KS, passed away Friday, June 14, 2024 at home. She was born in December 1938, to Lee and Thelma Harris.

She graduated from Benedict High School.  Shortly after graduating, the family moved to Winfield, KS, and this is where she met the love of her life Robert Harris.  After a brief engagement, they were married in 1957 and immediately started a family.  They lived in Kansas, Washington and back to Kansas for his job.  They finally settled on a farm west of Douglass, KS, where she was a stay-at-home mom, helped with the part-time farming operation and also worked while they owned a business in Douglass for a few years.

Arlene was a very active member of the First Baptist Church, Douglass, KS.  She taught numerous grade levels in Sunday School and served on numerous committees, but her greatest roles were serving as the church secretary for 33 years and being a dedicated and devoted deacon's wife.  The couple was dedicated to the South-Central Kansas Baptist Association and represented the church at the state level for a number of years.  When her husband retired, their roles shifted to include volunteering for the Kansas Nebraska Disasters Relief program on the feeding team (the yellow shirts).  Another passion within the state association was their support of the Webster Conference Center in Salina, KS.  They would spend a month each spring assisting the staff getting the camp prepared for the busy summer camping season.

They enjoyed traveling after her husband retired and put in many miles seeing the country.   Arlene also enjoyed sewing and making quilts. She donated many quilts through the church's quilting club for distribution.  She also donated kid-sized quilts and pillows to a local children's charity.  Her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids were always asking her to fix or mend clothing or stuffed toys when something needed patched up.

Arlene is proceeded in death by her parents Lee and Thelma Harris, her brother Kirk Harris and her husband Robert Harris.  She is survived by her sister Arnette Harris, Kiowa, KS, five daughters:  Becky Dickman (Richard), Colby, KS, Maria Foerschler (Kevin), Junction City, KS, Janice Spencer (Jerry), Douglass, KS, Kendra Hill, Douglass, KS, Carol Bergley (Dwight), Douglass, KS, and 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

A memorial graveside service will be held at the Kansas Veteran's Cemetery, 1208 N. College Street, Winfield, KS, on Friday, August 23, 2024, at 10:00 am.  Family and friends can gather at the First Baptist Church, 107 S. Maple, Douglass, KS, after the service for a time of fellowship and remembrance.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Webster Conference Center through the Kansas Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists, mailing address: KNCSB, 5410 SW 7th St, Topeka KS 66606. Checks can be made out to WCC and in the memo - Arlene Harris Memorial. Donations can also be made to FBC, P.O. Box 647, Douglass KS 67039.