Martha Jean Harris, 85, passed away Monday, Nov. 22, 2010.
Memorial service: 2 p.m. Saturday at New Hope Fellowship Church, 6410 South Freeway, Fort Worth.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, the family recommends donations to Tarrant Alliance for the Mentally Ill.
She was born in Indiana and graduated from Ball Memorial Hospital as a cadet nurse. She completed a B.S. in nursing and an M.S. in counseling at TCU. She was a retired school nurse who dedicated her career to community health services and working with pregnant teenagers and physically handicapped children. In 1984, she co-founded the Alliance for the Mentally Ill in both Tarrant County and the state of Texas, fulfilling many roles in both organizations. Jean assisted in developing many programs to aid mentally ill persons and their families, teaching seminars and professional workshops on brain disorders, and advocating for understanding and better treatment of persons with mental illness.
Jean was preceded in death by her son, Leonard Allen Harris, and her husband, George Edward Harris.
Survivors: Daughter, Cathy Tinetti and husband, Steve; son, David L. Harris; daughter, Carla Dods and husband, David; son, Val Harris and wife, Marilee; and six grandchildren.