Helen Ruth Harbor's Obituary
Helen Ruth McCary Harbor, or Mom as we like to call her, left the earth to join Jesus on Saturday, March 16. She was preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Elizabeth McCary, her brothers, Bruce, Cecil, Jack, Murray and Bobby and her grandson, Chris Harbor.Mom leaves two sons, Larry(Beth), Danny Harbor, and one daughter, Beth(Mike) Nelson, 5 grandchildren, Keith, Steven, Daniel, Jonathan Nelson and Sara Gregory and 7 great grandchildren.Mom grew up on a farm in Baldwyn, Mississippi. She once told her daddy while working on the farm, “Papa, I believe there is a better life out there and if there is one, I am going to find it” and she did! She moved to Memphis, Tennessee, got married, had 3 children and built a career at Buckeye Cellulose. When she retired, it took 3 people to fill her shoes. At the job and in all areas of her life, Mom shared her time and love. She was the accountant or secretary of the Buckeye Credit Union, various bowling leagues, a Young at Heart church group and Sunday school. She volunteered for several years at St Jude Research Hospital, which kept her around her favorite people in the world, children.Mom loved family, cooking, gardening Memphis University basketball games, crossword puzzles and gospel singing. After retirement, Mom followed her favorite gospel singing group around the country and abroad on several cruises. She travelled to the Bahamas, Jamaica, Hawaii, Alaska, Europe and Switzerland. On most of the trips by her side was her best friend, Barbara Tittle. They were often thought to be sisters and were inseparable.Mom loved her flower gardens and educated everyone on each variety of flower or flowering bush. She loved them all but roses but her favorite and she had several rose bushes in her yard with a variety of different colors.During her last journey of life, she was blessed with several caregivers. Joann and her neighbor Sherry from across the street assisted her at the beginning of that journey. Later she needed additional care, and Sherry Valentine arrived to take her through that journey. Sherry Valentine was Mom’s ‘Angel on earth’ and she treated her with gentle kindness, laughter and love.The family would like to extend sincere gratitude to all Mom’s caregivers. She would not have been able to stay at her home and live her long life without them and her wonderful son, Danny!The world will not be the same without Mom’s kind soul in it but Heaven will be brighter! We miss you and love you so much, Mom! Save us a place in Heaven! Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 767-8930. “A Fitting Farewell for Everyone”.
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