Ida Thelma Mabel Harris

IDA THELMA WABEL HARRIS



Funeral services for Ida Thelma Wabel Harris, 101, are set for Saturday, 10:30 at George J. Carroll Funeral Chapel with burial at 2:30 in Restland, Dallas with J. L. Williams, and Judy Daugett, officiating.



Ida was born October 7, 1907 in Ancona, Illinois to Adelbert and Mabel Reed Wabel, the oldest of five girls, she being the only surviving family member.



From the time she was twelve years old until she entered college at fifteen; she worked 11 hours a day on Saturday and Sunday at an Ice Cream Parlor and Candy Kitchen in Streator, IL.



Ida graduated from Normal Teachers College (now Illinois State University) in Normal, Illinois in 1925. She taught school for two years. Her first year was in the country south of Streator in a two room schoolhouse with grades 1-8. She was the only teacher. She came in early on cold days to stoke her own fire to be ready for the school day. She lived with a young couple close to the school.



She met Harry Earle Harris at her aunt’s boardinghouse where she lived while teaching her second year in Streator. They married in March, 1927 and together they had seven children. Three are living today, Mabel Samples, Pat Roberts and Ginny Solar.



When Ginny was born, Ida went to go to work to support the family because Earle was disabled. When her youngest child Ginny was ten and Pat was fourteen in 1955 Earle died and she was left to raise the two girls who remained at home.



She worked for Waldman Brothers Insurance Agency for 32 years. She purchased a home in Garland where she lived for 32 years before moving to Gainesville in 1996.



She raised beautiful roses and developed a great interest in fine teas. She acquired many beautiful china tea cups and when you came to her home she would serve you an excellent cup of tea.



Ida was a charter member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Garland where she taught Sunday school for many years. When she moved to Gainesville, she joined First Baptist Church where she attended regularly until a few months before her death.



She is survived by daughters and husbands, Mabel and J. A. Samples, Lake Kiowa, TX, Ginny and C. J. Solar, Cripple Creek, CO and daughter, Pat Roberts of Houston, TX; fifteen grandchildren; thirty-four great grandchildren; twelve great-great-grandchildren and one great-great-great grandson.



Also loving caregivers Linda Fleeks, Hospice nurse Debbie Perry and nurse’s aide Kathy Sanders.



She is predeceased by her parents, husband, four children, Betty Guthrie, Janie Green, Earle Harris and James Harris; four sisters, Rosanna McDermott, Esther Nations, Lydia Nations and Audra Arquette, one brother, John Wabel, son-in-law, Jess Green, Bob Roberts, daughters-in-law, Joan Harris and Rena Harris.



Pallbearers will be her eight grandson, Earl Stokes, David Green, Terry Samples, Gary Hoyle, Scott Harris, Daren Hoyle, David Hoyle and Rick Solar.



Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday night at George J. Carroll Funeral Home. You may sign the online registry at www.geojcarroll.com.



Donations may be made to Home Hospice or the Building Fund, First Baptist Church, Gainesville.