Barbara Jean "Toots" Harris

Barbara Jean “Toots” Harris, 91, passed away peacefully and comforted by family at her ranch outside Cascade, MT on Friday, August 23, 2019. A celebration of Barb’s life will be held on Saturday, August 31, 2019, at 1:00 p.m at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. Barb was born in Great Falls on January 27, 1928, to Leo and Elizabeth Tenney. She was the oldest of 14 children.She grew up in Great Falls, and found the love of her life, James P. “Jim” Harris. They married on September 4, 1948.They were blessed with 11 children (8 girls and 3 boys). Barb and Jim started their life together in Fort Benton, MT. They lived in Dillon and later moved to Great Falls. In 1967, they settled at the family ranch by St. Peter’s Mission outside of Cascade.There, she devoted her life to her family, and has left behind an extensive legacy. She was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She enjoyed traveling, gambling, cooking, knitting, reading, watching a variety of TV shows, playing games (such as Yahtzee and Skipbo), and cards (especially 31…a family favorite). Barb also loved her collectables, dolls (especially Barbie dolls), Coca-Cola and Elvis memorabilia, Beanie Babies, Cherished Teddies, Precious Moments, and more! Barb lost her husband, Jim, in 1984, after almost 36 years together. She spent the next 35 years managing the ranch and devoting her life to her family who were her greatest joy. The ranch has always been a gathering place for our family for holidays and celebrations, and will continue to be for years to come.All who knew Barb would describe her as wise, caring, supportive, compassionate, gracious, and genuinely kind lady. She was truly one of a kind and will be missed by all whose lives she has touched.Proof of how much she was loved was witnessed at her 90th birthday party where hundreds of family and friends gathered to celebrate what a beautiful person she was. Barb is survived by her sisters, Dolores Younger, Lorraine Givens, Patricia “Babe” Remsen, Marilyn (Herb) DuCharme, Sherry Pierson and her brothers Jerry (Carol) Tenney, Ron (Tannie) Tenney; many nieces and nephews; children, Kathy (Tom) Hill, Jack (Pattie) Harris, Nancy (Len) Hewitt, Dennis Harris, Lori (Joe) Crawford, Julie (Dave) Gifford, Patty (Bill) Kautz, Sandy (Steve) Lang, and Dan Harris (Scot Kemp).Barb is also survived by 25 grandchildren and 49 great-grandchildren, all of whom she made feel as though they were her favorite.Some affectionately referred to her as “Gooma.” Barb was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; her first born daughter, Diane, and her last born daughter, Deborah; parents, Leo and Elizabeth Tenney; siblings, Margaret Horton, Jack Tenney, Eugene Tenney, Sharon Nault, JoAnn Tenney, Mick Tenney, and Janet Bahlke; and her twin granddaughters, Jodi Lynn and Amber Leigh Hewitt. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Barb can be made to a foundation of your choice.