Margaret Elizabeth Harris

Margaret Elizabeth Harris (May 12, 1941-October 25, 2021) died of heart failure near her home in Sacramento, California. Over her 80 years, she touched the lives of so many with her faith, spiritual leadership, and her love of music. A lifelong keyboardist and piano teacher, she taught scores of children and adults in the Portland, Oregon area, where she lived most of her adult life. The daughter of Norman Foote, Episcopal Bishop of Idaho, Margaret was born in Bozeman, Montana, and grew up predominantly in Idaho. Over her whole life, she was known to many as a wise and loving person. A graduate of George School in Newtown, PA, she earned a degree in Baroque and early keyboard music from Willamette University in Salem, OR. In addition to teaching piano, she worked as an organist, a choir director and an administrative assistant at a number of churches in the Portland area. Whatever challenges life threw at her, she found the grace to see the beauty and good in creation, and all in it. She delighted all she met with her humor and wide range of interests, including traditional and basket weaving, drawing, birding, Native American culture, mysteries, and music. She is survived by her three children, Joseph Harris, Carolyn Chapman and Cris Harris, four grandchildren and six great grandchildren, and her brothers Roy and Ralph Foote of Idaho. She was preceded in death by her former husband the Rev. Renne L. Harris, her sister Judith Wright, and her parents Norman and Carolyn Foote (nee Swayne). The family plans a celebration of life in 2022 at Living Hope Church in Aloha, OR. Her ashes will be spread at Payette Lake near McCall Idaho, one of her favorite childhood places. In lieu of flowers the family welcomes contributions to the Audubon Society of Portland.