Sad News – Pat Harris has Passed Away

It is with great sorrow that I communicate the passing of Pat Harris.  Pat was the ever-present partner of Gene Spainhour for as long as I can remember.  I am sure it is the same for many of you, but for me a MOGSouth meet without Gene and Pat just didn’t seem right.   My heartfelt condolences go out to Gene during this very trying time. 

Pat passed away with her family in Cape Cod.  Pat was a wonderful member of the MOGSouth family and one of those people that makes MOGSouth the great club it is!  For me, she was always the ‘bright light in room’ even when we were outside mucking about with the silly cars.   She could be forceful when necessary, but had a wonderful sense of humor!  She often provided us with the ‘adult supervision’ we occasionally needed!  She was loved by us all and she will be deeply, deeply missed! 

Patricia Waggaman Harris

DOB: 05/29/1949 in Mt. Vernon, Ohio

DOD: 04/02/2021, age 71 in North Falmouth, MA

Born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio to Robert Waggaman and Mary Alice (Shrack) Waggaman. Pat spent a large portion of her childhood in Park Forest, IL before moving back to Mt. Vernon for high school. At Mt. Vernon High School, she met her husband to be, Jeffrey Harris, in the lunch line. Following high school, she attended Albion College in Albion, Michigan where she received a Bachelor of Arts in English. She later went on to earn a Master of Library Science from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.

Upon graduation from Albion, Pat and Jeff married and eventually settled in Bethlehem, NC where they raised two children, Christopher and Bethany. Pat worked as a librarian/ media specialist for many years, first at West Alexander Junior High School and then at Hickory High School. Pat earned her National Board Certification while at Hickory High School.

Pat had a love of the outdoors including walking, gardening and hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. She loved spending time with friends, pottery, books, chocolate, traveling, and a glass of wine. For the past sixteen years, she embarked on these pursuits and many other adventures with her partner, Gene Spainhour of Hickory. Most of all she loved her four grandchildren.

Pat will be lovingly remembered by her children Chris and Alissa Harris of Falmouth, MA and Bethany Harris and Leopoldo Sasso of Brooklyn, NY, and her grandchildren Hadley, Benjamin, Leopoldo and Clara. She is also survived by her brother Craig Waggaman and sister in-law Linda Waggaman of Radford, VA. Pat was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Jeffrey Harris in 1993.

A celebration of Pat’s life will be planned in the future in Hickory, North Carolina.

Memorial donations can be made in Pat’s memory to the following:

• Bethlehem Branch Friends of the Library, 45 Rink Dam Road, Hickory, NC 28601
• The ALS Association North Carolina Chapter, 4 North Blount Street Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27601
• Compassionate Care ALS, PO Box 1052, West Falmouth, MA 02574