Lela Harris passed away unexpectedly at her home in Manteca on July 29, 2011 at the age of 58. She was born in Richmond to Ned and Helen McConnell and had been a resident of San Lorenzo, graduating from Arroyo High School in 1971. She married Bill Harris in San Leandro in 1976. She and Bill moved to Oklahoma in 1977. They had two children. She went to college in Oklahoma and received her bachelor’s degree in business from Langston University. She moved back to California in 2004 and was employed as a Financial Analyst for Wells Fargo, NCO Financial and the Bay Area News Group. Lela loved collecting Elvis memorabilia, going to the beach, traveling, and spending as much time as possible with her grandbabies. She was an avid reader, an animal lover, a great cook, and she enjoyed sewing and playing the piano.

Lela is survived by her son Billy Harris of Tulsa Oklahoma, her daughter Brooke & husband Marc Jansen of Escalon, her grandchildren Tate
Staires-Harris of Clearmore Oklahoma and Johnathan Jansen of Escalon. She is also survived by her mother Helen Greer of Manteca, and her brothers Jack Hawk of San Lorenzo and Ned McConnell of Livermore.

Her Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, August 5 at 3:00 pm at Deegan Funeral Chapel, 1441 San Joaquin Street in Escalon, burial will be private for her family at Burwood Cemetery.

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Thursday, August 4, 2011