Obituary for Yvonne Patricia Harris (Jaques)
Yvonne Patricia Harris, 88, passed away on February 23, 2021 at Reflections Memory Care in Battle Creek. Yvonne was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on November 30, 1932, to Donald and Evelyn (Chater) Jaques and grew up in and around Winnipeg. From 1951 to 1957, she was a member of the Women’s Royal Canadian Navy Reserves as a communicator and was the leading WREN for her unit. Yvonne met SSGT Richard A. Harris, USAF, when he drove the bus for her unit to attend a USAF/WREN mixer. After a period of corresponding through letters when he was stationed at Hamilton AFB in California, they wed on October 12, 1957.
With Richard in the Air Force, he and Yvonne and their family were stationed at multiple locations over the years, including North Bend, Oregon; Biloxi, Mississippi; Condon, Oregon; Ramstein, Germany; and finally Fort Custer and Selfridge AFB in Michigan. They settled in Battle Creek in November 1969.
Throughout the years, Yvonne worked in clerical positions at places such as Canada Trust, Winnipeg Electric, various temporary positions in Battle Creek, and finally Battle Creek Area Transportation Study group from which she retired in 1997.
Yvonne is survived by her Children - Shelley Harris, Tammy Harris, Richard B. (Kelly) Harris, and Patricia (Andy) Riley; eight Grandchildren - Jennafer (Rob) Kutsche, Matthew Seelye, Alexander Sakellariou, Andrew Sloan, Jessica (Jake) Goodroe, Aaron Howley, Richard Gregory Harris, and Bailey Harris; and four Great-Grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 56 years, and her brothers, John Hilton Jaques, Patrick Barclay Jaques, Kenneth Alexander Jaques, and Robert Jaques.
Yvonne was raised in the Anglican church. She was a Girl Scout Leader and a Tupperware dealer for several years. Her hobbies were gardening, knitting, and crossword and jigsaw puzzles. Yvonne loved to read and shared that with her children. She also took classes in cake decorating and made a lot of beautiful cakes. Yvonne was the family genealogist, spending many hours researching and documenting not only the various branches of the Harris and Jaques families, but also providing genealogies for close friends. After retirement, Richard and Yvonne purchased an RV and traveled frequently, stopping along the way to meet family members Yvonne had found through her research.
Visitation will be held at the Baxter Funeral and Cremation Service on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 from 4:00 - 6:00 pm.
Funeral services will be held at Baxter Funeral and Cremation Service on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 starting at 12:00 pm with Pastor Steve Doty officiating.
Memorial contributions may be may to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of Yvonne.
Arrangements entrusted to the Baxter Funeral and Cremation Service, 269-788-9800, www.baxterfuneral.com
With Richard in the Air Force, he and Yvonne and their family were stationed at multiple locations over the years, including North Bend, Oregon; Biloxi, Mississippi; Condon, Oregon; Ramstein, Germany; and finally Fort Custer and Selfridge AFB in Michigan. They settled in Battle Creek in November 1969.
Throughout the years, Yvonne worked in clerical positions at places such as Canada Trust, Winnipeg Electric, various temporary positions in Battle Creek, and finally Battle Creek Area Transportation Study group from which she retired in 1997.
Yvonne is survived by her Children - Shelley Harris, Tammy Harris, Richard B. (Kelly) Harris, and Patricia (Andy) Riley; eight Grandchildren - Jennafer (Rob) Kutsche, Matthew Seelye, Alexander Sakellariou, Andrew Sloan, Jessica (Jake) Goodroe, Aaron Howley, Richard Gregory Harris, and Bailey Harris; and four Great-Grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 56 years, and her brothers, John Hilton Jaques, Patrick Barclay Jaques, Kenneth Alexander Jaques, and Robert Jaques.
Yvonne was raised in the Anglican church. She was a Girl Scout Leader and a Tupperware dealer for several years. Her hobbies were gardening, knitting, and crossword and jigsaw puzzles. Yvonne loved to read and shared that with her children. She also took classes in cake decorating and made a lot of beautiful cakes. Yvonne was the family genealogist, spending many hours researching and documenting not only the various branches of the Harris and Jaques families, but also providing genealogies for close friends. After retirement, Richard and Yvonne purchased an RV and traveled frequently, stopping along the way to meet family members Yvonne had found through her research.
Visitation will be held at the Baxter Funeral and Cremation Service on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 from 4:00 - 6:00 pm.
Funeral services will be held at Baxter Funeral and Cremation Service on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 starting at 12:00 pm with Pastor Steve Doty officiating.
Memorial contributions may be may to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of Yvonne.
Arrangements entrusted to the Baxter Funeral and Cremation Service, 269-788-9800, www.baxterfuneral.com