Shirley A. Harris

Shirley Ann (Gay) Harris, age 74, of Dayton, Ohio, passed away unexpectedly February 13, 2021. She was born January 18, 1947 in Winchester, Kentucky from the marriage of Golden Gay Sr. and Nora Mae (Chenault) Gay. Norma Mae later married Raymond Mynhier Sr, whom Shirley honored and cherished as her father.

Shirley graduated from George Rogers Clark High School, Winchester, Kentucky, in 1965. She also gave her life to Christ at an early age and enjoyed singing in the church choir as a child. She married Eddie Harris in 1969 in Washington, DC where they both lived enjoying careers in public service. Shirley and her husband eventually moved to California where they spent several beautiful years in the Golden State; surrounded by beautiful palm trees. Upon their separation, she moved to Dayton, Ohio where she spent the rest of her life as a devoted mother, friend, and grandmother. She worked in public service for the Federal Government for 30 years. She retired from the Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC) in 2003. She loved music and enjoyed dancing. She also truly enjoyed spending time with her family. She was an avid seeker of knowledge and had a strong passion for issues impacting social justice and civil rights.

She is preceded in death by her fathers, Golden Gay Sr. and Raymond Mynhier Sr.; brothers, Raymond Mynhier Jr., Golden (June) Gay Jr., William Marcus Gay, Floyd Gay, and sister-in-law, Ardella Gay.

She leaves to cherish her memories, her devoted mother, Nora Mae Mynhier (MeMa); devoted son and daughters, Anthony Harris, Tiffani Harris, and Monique Harris; sister, Lois Jean (Gay) Webster; brothers, Donald Lee (Georgia) Gay, Rodney (Tootsie) Skinner; half-sisters, Catherine (Jim) Brooks, Margaret (Charles) Brooks, and Dericka (Al) Scott; loving grandchildren, Da’marian Harris, Mone’t Allen, Jonathan Allen, Naja Harris, and Nahkti Harris; special aunt, Iona Watts; longtime friend, Clarence Shepard; special nieces and nephews, Christopher Gay, Jeffery Webster, Lamar Gay, Dondry Gay, Caprice Gay, Kenny Gay, Dante Gay, Rodreces Woods, Alicia Woods, Theresa (Dwayne) Botts, Timothy Brown; and a host of other nieces, nephews, and cousins who would often refer to her as “Auntie Shirley”.   

Walk-through visitation 11 am-1 pm Monday, March 1, at the House of Wheat Funeral Home, Inc., 2107 N. Gettysburg Ave. Private Service. Interment Jeffersonview Cemetery.

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