Jean Downs (Arthur) Harris

DATELINE:  KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA / PASADENA, TEXAS Jean Arthur Harris

Jean Downs Arthur Harris, 86, of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, entered eternal rest, surrounded by her loving family on October 17, 2024 at Atrium Health Cleveland in Shelby. Jean was born on April 8, 1938, daughter of the late James Henri and Elizabeth Groome Arthur and was also preceded in death by her husband, John O. Harris, Jr., two sisters, Marion Arthur Thomasson and Peggy Arthur Miller and her parents-in-law, Senator J. Ollie Harris Sr. and Abbie Wall Harris. Jean was a longtime member of Central Methodist Church in Kings Mountain and First United Methodist Church in Pasadena, TX. She graduated from Kings Mountain High School and went on to earn a Bachelors Degree in Education from Greensboro College. After her graduation and relocation to Texas, Jean taught school full time at Parks Elementary for more than 10 years and served as a substitute teacher for over 30 years and was involved in her family business, John O. Harris Interest LP. Jean enjoyed staying active, working out, and was an avid competitive tennis player. She was a member of the Houston Ladies Tennis Association. Jean spent many hours working in her flower garden, growing and arranging beautiful flower arrangements. She loved to travel, and take family vacations. The holidays were some of Jean's favorite times of the year. She stayed busy decorating, cooking, and planning the perfect family gatherings for her loved ones. Jean was an accomplished cook and loved cooking meals from old recipes she had inherited from her mother. Jean was a social person who had countless friends she loved dearly. Some of her favorite times were gathering and lunching with her friends here in Kings Mountain, Pasadena and Houston. She enjoyed entertaining those she cared for, especially her beloved family. She was not only a loving grandmother, but a dedicated and supportive one. She could always be counted on by her grandchildren to attend baseball games, volleyball games, soccer matches, basketball games and any other endeavor they were involved in. Jean was a wonderful mother, loving grandmother, and faithful friend to many. Her dedication, strength, guidance and love will be remembered for a lifetime by her family, friends, and the communities of Kings Mountain and Pasadena.

Left to cherish Jean's memory are her children: John O. Harris III of Kings Mountain, NC, and Elizabeth Harris Lindberg and husband Paul Lindberg Jr. of Nassau Bay, TX; her grandchildren: John O. Harris IV, Abbie Downs Harris, and Layla Ann Harris, all of Raleigh, NC and Paul Edwin Lindberg III of Nassau Bay, TX; her sister: Shirley Arthur Kinneman of Jacksonville, FL; and her longtime companion Charles Yelton of Kings Mountain, NC and his children, Marc Yelton and wife Jennifer and their son Austin Yelton, and Jina Motts and husband Richard; sister-in-law, Becky Harris of Kings Mountain, NC

FUNERAL SERVICE: Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 2:00 PM in the Christian Activities Center of Central Methodist Church with Reverend Perry Hines officiating

VISITATION: Monday, October 21, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Harris Funeral Home

INTERMENT: Mountain Rest Cemetery, Kings Mountain, North Carolina

In lieu of flowers, the Harris family requests that donations in Jean's memory be made to Central Methodist Church at 113 S. Piedmont Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 or to Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute at AtriumHealthFoundation.org/tribute

GUEST REGISTER AVAILABLE AT WWW.HARRISFUNERALS.COM ARRANGEMENTS: HARRIS FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES, KINGS MOUNTAIN, NORTH CAROLINA