Agnes J. Harris

"Agnes J. Harris, 89. Two families lost a loving mother when Agnes Harris died on April 23, 2007, and her husband, Leighton, lost a warmhearted companion. Agnes was a woman who softly nurtured those she loved, from family and friends, to the flowers and birds she tended each day, and even to ''Scan”, the stray cat, she long befriended. She had fought one or another form of cancer for 25 years, and battled Alzheimer's for the past few years before moving into Pleasant Bay Nursing for the final weeks. She was born in Windsor, Vt., on February 1, 1918. Agnes spent her childhood years in Claremont, N.H. She married Merton E. Sayles in 1939. They lived in Needham, Mass., where they raised their family, later moving to Berwyn, Pa. They had been married 32 years before his death in 1971. Their surviving children are Marcy S. Farmer, and son-in-law Michael Farmer, of Richboro, Pa., and Michael C. Sayles of Rehoboth, Mass. Grandchildren from this marriage are Jennifer Sayles, Katie Raymond, Amy Farmer, Christopher Farmer, and Evan Sayles. She is also survived by a sister, Harriet Davis, of Newport, N.H.; and a caring friend, Susan Adams, who Agnes referred to as her ''almost-a-daughter.” Agnes later married Leighton G. Harris in 1972. They lived for a short time in Sherborn, Mass., and then upon his retirement, they moved to their present home in West Chatham on Cape Cod. Her surviving step-children from this marriage include Janet H. Harris of Epping, N.H., Richard L. Harris, and daughter-in-law Paulette, of Valencia, Calif.; with grandchildren, Matthew R. Harris of North Hollywood, Calif., and Kristin Wellenberger, and Thomas Wellenberger, living with their mother, Janet, in Epping, N.H. Agnes and Leighton liked to point out that each had been married to somebody for more than 65 years. Agnes was an outstanding cook and homemaker. People sometimes referred to her as the beach plum queen of Nantucket Sound. Each year that berries were plentiful, she cooked more than 100 jars of jelly and most of these were given away to friends and neighbors and family members. Her true hobby was flower gardening. Her yard was landscaped with blossoms and greenery, and she nursed special plants through the winter in her attached greenhouse. In addition to maintaining a busy home, Agnes was an active volunteer around town, driving for Meals on Wheels, for FISH, and spending many hours working for her church as a deacon, thrift shop assistant, and handling the garden booths for church fairs. In keeping her wishes, a simple memorial service will held for family and friends at a time yet to be announced. Memorial gifts in her name may be made to the First Congregational Church of Harwich Center. In closing this tribute we quote what one friend said in describing Agnes Harris. ''We have all been encircled by her dignity, her sense of family, her flair for entertaining, and her quiet, loving support. She was a shining example of quality and character, and beautiful caretaker to us all.” "