Pat Julian Harris || Obituary

Pat Julian Harris, R.N., passed away March 19, 2025, in Paris, Texas. Pat was born July 21, 1932, in Roxton, Texas, to Fred and Lillie Perkins Julian. Pat graduated from Roxton High School in 1949. As soon as the graduation cap was put away, Pat traveled to the big city of Dallas and enrolled in Methodist Hospital School of Nursing. In 1952 she earned her R. N. cap—one she would wear for the next 45 years. All those years were spent at Dallas Methodist Hospital, now Methodist Hospital Dallas Medical Center.

Upon graduation, Pat married her sweetheart Charles Henry Harris. The newlyweds began married life in Oak Cliff, where they welcomed son Charles Bradley and later son Jeffrey Lane. The growing Harris family soon settled into their new home in DeSoto, Texas, their home for the next 30 years. Here the Harris family formed close bonds with their Bailey Street neighbors that have endured through deaths and relocations.

The Harrises were faithful members of First United Methodist Church Desoto where Pat was a longtime member of The Crusader’s Sunday School Class. Every Sunday Pat was not burping babies at the hospital, she was in her Crusader’s class and her pew—on the right about eight rows from the back. If the Cooper family was not there, there was a call about 1:00 to ask why.  Both Pat and Harris were active in DeSoto High School’s athletic and band programs.

Pat’s forty-five-year nursing career began in the Newborn Nursery where she served as Head Nurse for twenty-nine years. She also worked in the Special Care Nursery and in the Shared Care Unit. Her favorite times were always working with the newborns. In 1994 Pat was selected as one of the “Dallas/Ft. Worth Great 100 Nurses” by the Texas Nurses Association. In response to this award, her colleagues said, “Pat is not only a great nurse, but she is also a great friend to Nurses and Nursing and to the families she cares for.”

Upon retiring in 1998, Pat returned to Roxton where she enjoyed years of fun and mischief with Anga Mundy, Lou Weems, Helen Martin (Roxton classmates who had also come back home), her nephew Jimmy Cooper who introduced her to the casinos, and outings with the Red Hat girls. Pat was a member of the Roxton Garden Club (She couldn’t grow ivy, but she loved a good meeting), the Ex-Students Association, and the City of Roxton Community Development Committee. Pat was once more active in the church of her childhood, the Roxton Methodist Church. Pat had many funny stories of her childhood Sundays there with Sister Lucille singing in the choir, Sister Pauline playing the organ, and her as the designated babysitter of the rambunctious Cooper boys.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, husband Harris, sisters Pauline Childers, Lucille Cooper, Margaret Swearingen, Odessa Lawrence, brothers Buddy Julian, Jerry Julian, Harold Julian and Kenneth Dink Julian. Surviving are her sons Brad and Jeff, many loving nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews who will miss their Aunt Pat. We wish the last of the Julian kids a grand reunion with all those who are waiting for her. God speed, good and faithful servant.

Visitation will be at the Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Sunday, March 23, 2025. Graveside service will be at Noon Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Holy Redeemer Cemetery in DeSoto, Texas. Memorial services will be at 11:00 AM Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Roxton United Methodist Church, Pastor Nancy Russell officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 preceding the Memorial Service.