OBITUARY Marilyn Harris February 6, 1948 – October 15, 2018 Marilyn Yaffe Harris, age 70, passed away on Monday, October 15, 2018 at Methodist Richardson Regional Center in Richardson, Texas surrounded by her family. She was born in Omaha, Nebraska to Harry and Lillian Yaffe, who preceded her in death. Soon after her birth, they moved to Dallas where Marilyn lived her whole life.
After graduating from the University of Texas and working in the field of advertising and public relations, Marilyn married her beloved Owen in 1978 who preceded her in death in 2015. Marilyn’s love for Owen was evident in everything she did each and every day. Their love is manifest in the lives of their sons and daughters-in-law, Aaron and Heather and Nathan and Raquel.
When she spoke of her sons her face would light up and her voice would be filled with pride. Marilyn depended on her cherished sister, Carilynne Yaffe Gay, for support and friendship during good times and bad. Marilyn held her niece Leah Gay Roustan and her children Lillian and Hunter, as well as her nephew Harrison Gay with great affection.
Owen’s brother, Melvyn Harris, gifted her with his guidance and support following Owen’s passing and during her fights with cancer. Her life was blessed with an abundance of love. The sense of pride that Marilyn had for her family extended to the middle school students she taught at Carpenter Middle School for over 15 years.
Her wealth of knowledge, wicked sense of humor and expectations of excellence led her students to excel academically and in competitions, such as Collin County Mock Trial at which her students won and placed several times. She was called “the queen” by her students because in her classroom, where she taught history and the sacredness of a democratic republican form of government, Marilyn was absoluteruling with a dedicated and dynamic heart. Marilyn believed that she should go beyond academic enrichment for her gifted students.
She taught them that hard-work, integrity and kindness would help them stand the trials that they would face their entire lives. Her love for “bling” and vintage led her to another venue in which to use her knowledge of history: vintage clothing and jewelry. She traveled extensively with her dear friend, Steven Porterfield to collect and sell her treasures.
Her former colleagues at Carpenter Middle School and her friends at High Street Antiques and Design will miss her insightfulness, her political commentaries and her love for “bling”.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
