Cora Ellen Ward Harr, 92, formerly of Watauga, Tenn., passed away on Sunday, April 13, 2014, at Hillview Health Center, Elizabethton.
A native of Avery County, N.C., Cora was a daughter of the late James Monroe and Arizona Millsaps Ward. She came to Elizabethton to live in March of 1939, at the age of 17. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Elbert Frederick Harr (February 23, 2004); six brothers, George Ward, Dayton Ward, Ron Ward, Tom Ward, Mike Ward and Raleigh Ward; and five sisters, Anna Oaks, Grace Harmon, Jane Greene, Eliza Stines and Susie Trivett.
Cora was a member of Fairview Baptist Church, where she worked for 32 years in the preschool department, served on the kitchen committee, and worked as a deacon’s wife for years. She also served as a Vacation Bible School teacher for many years.
Survivors include two daughters, Janice Murray and husband, Wayne Murray Sr., Johnson City, and Ruth Ann Ford and husband, Richard, Talbott, Tenn.; two sons, J.C. Harr and fiancée, Kathy Thomas, Elizabethton, and Wayne Harr and wife, Rachel, Watauga; nine grandchildren, Wayne Murray Jr., Atlanta, Ga., Anthony Frederick Murray and wife, Carrie, Johnson City, Renee Keller and husband, Travis, of Arkansas, Rhonda Grooms and husband, Kevin, Morristown, Tenn., Rebecca Ellen Seal and husband, Matthew, Morristown, Tenn., Tammy Markland and husband, Kenny, Elizabethton, Shannon Harr, Elizabethton, Sherry Shepard and husband, Acyle, Johnson City, and Heather Cole and husband, Keith, Elizabethton; 11 great-grandchildren, Russell Vines, John Vines, Josh Markland, Zac Markland, Hayden Keller, Sierra Clark, Kallie Cole, Cooper Anthony Cole, Jon Shepard, Cora Beth Seal and Millie June Seal; four special nieces, Delorise Lentz, Linda Clawson, Mary Ann (Ward) Rhine and Reba Church; and several other nieces and nephews.
A service to celebrate Cora’s life will be conducted at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 17, in the Riverside Chapel at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Dr. Kenneth Jordan officiating. Music will be under the direction of Mrs. Debbie Gouge, soloist. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, prior to the service, or at the home of her daughter, Janice Murray, and the home of her son, Wayne Harr, at anytime. The graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, April 18, at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be grandsons, Anthony Frederick Murray and Wayne Murray Jr., great-grandsons, Josh Markland and Zac Markland, and grandsons-in-law, Kenny Markland, Keith Cole, Kevin Grooms, Matthew Seal and Travis Keller. Honorary pallbearers will be Acyle Shepard, Bobby Dugger, Buddy Arney, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Caldwell, Betty Isaacs, Tony Mottern, Bob Livingston, Jim Parlier, Bernice Hyder, Barbara Campbell, and Dr. James Shipley. Everyone will meet at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, at 10:15 a.m. Friday to go in procession to the cemetery. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Robert Walter and the nurses and staff of Hillview Health Center Station 2 for the loving care and support given to “Miss Cora.” Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the Harr family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.