Obituary: Evalyn Fair Mason Harris
Evalyn Fair Mason Harris, age 101, of Bolivar, Tennessee, died peacefully at her home on Saturday, March 15, 2025, surrounded by family.
Evalyn was born on February 7, 1924, in Wayland, Kentucky. She was the daughter of Belville Fitzhugh Mason and Blanche Geraldine Cutshaw. Evalyn moved to Jackson, Tennessee as a young girl and was a 1942 graduate of Jackson High School. She attended West Tennessee Business College and Union University for a short time. On September 13, 1942, she and her husband of almost 74 years, Oscar Emsley Harris, Jr., eloped in Corinth, Mississippi. She worked as a payroll clerk at Milan Arsenal during WWII and later became secretary and treasurer of Harris Gin Company. Evalyn participated in and was a member of many organizations for over 60 years. Most of these organizations pertained to her love of and passion for genealogy. These included The Nat’l Society Sons and Daughter of the Pilgrims, National Society Colonial Dames of America, The Fontaine-Maury Society, Jamestown Society, Magna Charta Dames, Daughter of 1812, Colonial Order of the Crown, Plantagenet Society, United Daughters of the Confederacy, The Huguenot Society, First Families of Tennessee, First Families of Massachusetts, First Families of South Carolina, and particularly a 65 year member of Daughters of The American Revolution.
Evalyn, a woman of devout faith, was also an active member of St. James Episcopal Church. She had many friends and was especially fond of her Thursday night dinner group which met at Simon’s for fellowship.
Evalyn was preceded in death by her parents; six half siblings; and her grandson, Bradley Metcalf Harris, Jr. She is survived by her son, Dr. Bradley Metcalf Harris (Kathy) of Germantown, Tennessee; daughter, Tempe Harris Easterday (Mike) of Sparks, Nevada; six grandchildren, Dr. Julie Harris Marino (John) of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Dr. David Calvin Harris (Rachel) of Little Rock, Arkansas, Jessie Harris Harvey (Phillip) of Memphis, Tennessee, Harris Allen Easterday of Simpsonville, South Carolina, Christina Easterday Salois (Jamie) of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Samuel Bradley Easterday (Savannah) of Simpsonville, South Carolina; and her 10 great grandchildren. Evalyn is also survived by her faithful cat, Callie.
The family would like to thank West Tennessee Hospice Care for its incredibly tender and loving care for Evalyn these past four months, especially Shauna, Nancy, and Curtis. Thanks also to her night nurses, Rena Anderson, Lisa Fawcett, and Ernestine McNeal.
II Timothy 4:7-8 says “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.”
Visitation will be at St. James Episcopal Church on Monday, March 31, 2025, from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a service and burial at Union Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to St. James Scholarship Fund, 233 Lafayette Street., Bolivar, Tennessee 38008 or Covenant College (Carter Hall, 14049 Scenic Highway, Lookout Mountain, Georgia 30750). Shackelford Funeral Directors of Bolivar are in charge of professional arrangements.
Evalyn’s favorite color was purple. She wanted her funeral to be a celebration. If you have anything purple to wear, please do so in her honor!
Courtesy of Shackelford Funeral Directors, Bolivar, Tennessee.
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