Mary Estelle Harrison's Obituary
Mary Estelle McGuffin Harrison lived a good LONG life, nay; she lived a long GOOD life. Estelle was born on May 9, 1921 in Sulphur Springs, TX to Reverend Marvin P. and Jewel Mary (Moffitt) McGuffin. She was the 7th of 9 children with 6 sisters and 2 brothers. Her father was a Baptist Preacher and he moved the family around Texas to preach the gospel. Estelle said everyone in the family had chores to do before and after school. She said “I had to make beds, wash and dry dishes, and then go work in the fields in the afternoon”. But there was time for fun also as she and her siblings spent their free time playing croquette and swinging on a big grapevine swing. She played basketball in high school and her position was a guard.
While living in Como, TX, Estelle worked at the local school cafeteria. Her future mother-in-law was her supervisor. Mrs. W.A. Harrison told her son, Leo Eugene Harrison, there was a cute girl working with her that makes good cornbread. Leo said “I’ll have to marry anybody who can make good cornbread”. They were married on March 29, 1941 in Hugo, OK and that same year they welcomed their first child, Beverly Jean Harrison, born in Sulphur Springs, TX.
In 1942, Leo and Estelle moved to Dallas, TX in search of more employment opportunities for Leo. Their 2nd daughter, Barbara Gail Harrison was born in 1944 in Dallas, TX and their son, Curtis Michael Harrison, was born in 1947, also in Dallas, TX. Their family was complete and eventually settled in Mesquite, TX.
Leo and Estelle were married for more than 65 years when he died in 2006. They had a happy marriage and were active in their church, Oates Drive Baptist Church, and their senior center, Evans Senior Center, both located in Mesquite, TX. They liked to travel, play dominoes, and dance, but most of all they enjoyed spending time with their extended family. They had 12 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren, and 22 great-great grandchildren.
In her later years, Estelle lived in an assisted living facility, Deer Creek Senior Living in DeSoto, TX. She was well taken care of and loved by the staff and she loved them back. She contracted COVID and pneumonia and died at Methodist Charlton Medical Center in Desoto, TX on March 20, 2024 while under hospice care with Heart to Heart Hospice. All of the nurses caring for her provided her with gentle, loving care and the family appreciates their dedication.
Estelle was the last of her generation. She came from a large loving family who all departed this world before her but she leaves behind an even larger family to cherish her memory. She is survived by her daughter Beverly Upton, daughter-in-law Myrna Harrison, grandchildren Charles (Kay), Mark (Sandy), Terry (Claudia), Kristi, Shane, Mickey (Janice), Travis (Camille), James (Flora), and Glenn, 31 great grandchildren, 22 great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leo, daughter Barbara, son Mike, granddaughters Robin, Alechia, and Jeni, and great-grandchildren Laurie and Chris.
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