Muriel Kathryn (Frame) Harris

Muriel Kathryn Frame Harris

This extraordinary woman passed away Wednesday (June 3, 2009) at Presbyterian Manor in Newton. She was born on Sept. 19, 1919, to Lee Ora Frame and Kathryn Price Frame, who then resided on North Oliver Street in Sedgwick County, now a part of the city of Wichita. Except for a short period after her mother died in 1928, when she lived with her mother's family in Alton, Ill., Kathryn lived either in Wichita or Newton. She graduated from Newton High School in 1937 and matriculated at Sterling College in fall of that year. She completed two years at Sterling and met her future husband, Wright Eugene Harris Jr., there. They were married in 1939 and took up residence in Wichita. They had been married 59 years when Wright passed away in 1998.

Five sons were born of this union: Wright E. Harris III of St. Louis, Michael J. Harris of Tallahassee, Fla., Francis E. Harris of San Pedro, Calif., Roger L. Harris of Seattle, and Anthony J. Harris of San Pablo, Calif. Fourteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren came from the Harris boys and their children.

Kathryn was a homemaker in the early years of her marriage. She worked for a time during World War II at Boeing Co. When her children were all of school age, she returned to school to complete her bachelor's degree in elementary education at Wichita State University. She also taught part time in the parochial school system of Wichita at Holy Savior and St. Patrick schools.

Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, Kathryn taught third grade and reading for many years in the Wichita public schools. She earned a master's degree in reading along the way. She was recognized for her contributions to early education when named runner up for Kansas Teacher of the Year in 1981. Kathryn retired from full-time teaching in 1989 but continued to work part time and to volunteer as a reading teacher for many more years.

Kathryn was active in her community and in her church - early years at St. Peter Claver, later years at St. Patrick's. She was a den mother when her sons were in Cub Scouts. She and Wright served as extraordinary ministers of Communion at St. Patrick's for many years.

She was proud to have been able to travel to various religion shrines in Europe and Central America - the Vatican in Rome, Italy; Fatima in Portugal; Lourdes in France; and La Senora de Guadalupe in Mexico City. She loved to tell anyone who would listen she had visited all 50 United States. She got to Hawaii on her way to visit her son Wright, who was living for a time in Papau, New Guinea, by way of Australia. One of her last journeys was to Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada.

She will be remembered by those she birthed and raised as the best of mothers, an outstanding cook, and a champion and role model for learning, independence and fairness. She also will be remembered by the hundreds of students she taught throughout her career as an elementary teacher and reading specialist. She will be remembered, as well, by all those whom she served and worked with in her churches and in the communities in which she lived.

A prayer service will be Thursday evening at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 2007 N. Arkansas St. in Wichita.

A funeral Mass will take place at St. Patrick Friday morning. Call the rectory at (316) 262-4683 for times. Interment will immediately follow at Resurrection Cemetery, 1640 N. Maize Road in Wichita.

Those interested in participating in Kathryn's going home service may call (316) 772-1971 for directions.

God has welcomed her into heaven. She followed His commandments faithfully, 'Love God and love your neighbor.' Come home, Kathryn, to the place I have prepared for you!