Frances Nell Smisson Harris died July 4, 2022 in Springfield, MO.  She was born March 24, 1929, to Mary Louise Carter and Louis Edgar Smisson at their home in Peach County, GA, near Fort Valley.

Mrs. Harris attended Fort Valley Public Schools, graduating in 1946 as Valedictorian. She attended Smith College for two years then transferred to Duke university where she graduated in 1950. In 1951, she received a Certificate of Social Work from Louisiana State University. She was a Child Welfare Worker in Tennessee from 1951 to 1955, first in Carter County and then in Sullivan County. From 1955 through 1958, she worked as a Medical Social Caseworker in University Hospitals in Iowa City, IA. From 1964 to 1967 she was a social worker at Florida State Hospital. In 1982, she received a Master of Arts degree in counseling from Southeast Missouri State University; she did her field work under Dr. Ray Otto, Chaplain at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

May 29, 1953, she married Joseph Leo Harris in Lawton, OK. They celebrated their fiftieth anniversary several months before Leo’s death. They had three children: Mary Olivia of Atlanta, GA, Cecelia Ann of Springfield, MO, and Benjamin Leo of Springfield, MO.

Mrs. Harris’ life revolved around her family and friends. She enjoyed participating in the League of Women Voters for over 50 years in both Cape Girardeau and Springfield. In addition, she also got much pleasure from her association with her friends in Faculty Dames of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, and the Unitarian Universalist Church in Springfield.

Mrs. Harris was pre-deceased by her husband, her parents, her brother, Leonard Franklin Smisson his wife Mary Lou Gilbride Smisson and their sons Leonard Franklin Smisson, Jr. and Christopher Bernard Smisson, and her brothers Walter Carter Smisson, Sr. of Commerce, GA and Louis Edgar Smisson, Jr. and his wife Martha Beck Smisson of Ranburne, AL.

Mrs. Harris is survived by daughters Mary Olivia Harris and Cecelia Ann Harris, her husband Ted Dillard, grandson Anthony Dillard and his wife Darcy and her great granddaughter Emery, and grandson Travis and son Benjamin Leo Harris, and sister-in-law Mary Leone Perkerson Smisson of Commerce, GA. She is also survived by nieces, nephews and many beloved cousins.

Mrs. Harris donated her body to Washington University School of Medicine. A memorial service will be held at a later date at her memorial bench along the greenways trail.