Shirley Harris

Our wonderful Mother, Aunt, Grandmother and Great Grandmother Shirley Jean (Dagit) Harris was born November 28, 1930 in East Peoria, Illinois. She passed away peacefully at Renaissance Care Center in Canton, Illinois on August 31st 2024 after fighting a respiratory illness at the age of 93. She loved to sing, recite and read poems to us that she learned growing up. During High School she was a member of the school choir and was also voted princess at East Peoria High. She has one surviving schoolmate Madeline Meischner of Pekin who has been a dear friend with whom she shared wonderful memories. Mom married our Dad on July 4, 1953 in East Peoria. They were married for 32 years and had 4 children: Pamela Jean Harris of Missouri, Karen Sue Harris Taylor (deceased), Gregory Scott Harris of Pekin and Stephen Douglas Harris of Lake Wales Florida.

Mom frequently worked outside the home. First was Velvet Freeze while she was in high school then Apothecary in East Peoria when first married to our Dad, Lou’s Drive Inn (Peoria) and then at various retail stores when we moved to Canton from Peoria. She helped Dad in their businesses and after the divorce; she was employed by Drow Hardware, Spurgeon’s and then Farm King in Canton (for 30 years). Mom received many awards for her service to the Canton community. Among them was the Fulton County Women’s Crisis Service and the Fulton County Nursing Home Advocacy Program. Mom also loved to take care of her grandchildren while parents worked. She was so loved by all her grandchildren and great grandchildren and wouldn’t miss a dance recital or school game. Mom also loved to play “Bunko” and go on bus trips with friends when she was semi-retired. Even though she didn’t have a lot of money, she would save up to get each family member a Christmas gift. One would hear her asking Christmas morning if she got one for everyone (she didn’t want to forget anyone). She was a faithful member of First Christian Church in Canton. She loved her Sunday school class and sang in the choir sometimes. Even when she had severe dementia and lived at Courtyard Estates, to our surprise she would be up and ready for the church bus to pick her up on Sunday mornings.

Her parents were Adam Fredrick Dagit and Ethel Alice (Keil) Dagit of East Peoria. She had many sisters and brothers who preceded her in death: Edith (Dagit) Sill, Dorothy (Dagit) Berry, Midge (Dagit) George, Fred Dagit, Richard Dagit, Don Dagit and Loren Dagit. Some nieces and nephews and one grandson also preceded her in death.

She is survived by three of her four children, Pamela Jean Harris of Missouri, Gregory Scott Harris (Stephanie) of Pekin Illinois and Stephen Douglas Harris of Lake Wales, Florida. Her grandchildren are: Karlee Crnkovich, Kolin Crnkovich, and Trinity Taylor of Canton, Amanda Frautschy of Rockton, Illinois, Justin Baird and Jeremy Harris of Missouri, Desimbur Norris and Autumn Harris of Pekin, Illinois and Madison Harris and Alera Harris of Florida, great-grandchildren; Mackenzie, Phoenix, Eden, Lyla, Drew, Morgan, and Oliver, one great great-granddaughter Rowyn, that she dearly loved and several nieces and nephews. Our whole family was blessed by having such a wonderful woman in our lives!

Services will be 2 pm Saturday, September 7, 2024 at Oaks-Hines Funeral Home in Canton, where visitation will be 1 hour prior to services. Burial will be at a later date. Mom loved animals and would like any donations to go to the Humane Society of Fulton County.