Virginia Maude Kelly Harris Obituary
Virginia Maude (Kelly) Harris passed away peacefully on June 4, 2018. Virginia was a fearless and tough daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Born in Tekamah, Neb., on Sept. 4, 1923, she was the fourth of nine children born to Alburn Lee and Hannah Wilmina (Boling) Kelly. She grew up on a farm and graduated from Decatur High School. She met Arthur Leighton Harris in Denver, Colo., while they were both working in a factory making airplane parts during World War II. In 1945, she became his loving wife. They had three children, Dianna Lynn (1947, Springerville, Ariz.), Arthur Leighton II (1948, Denver) and Janet Dawn (1949, Denver). The family moved to Marblehead, Mass., shortly after Janet was born.
Virginia was a wonderful artist. She enjoyed painting figurines and, later in life, oil painting. She and Arthur started the North Shore Figurine Company in Lynn, Mass. Arthur's family lived in the area so their children grew up with lots of family love. In 1960, the family moved to Klamath Falls, Ore., after Virginia and Arthur purchased Skateland Roller Rink. Together, they operated the "old" rink for almost 20 years, during which time Virginia became a roller skating professional. She taught every level of artistic skating and many of her students (including her children) competed at the national level. She also produced fun-filled annual skating shows and played roller hockey. In 1978, they built a larger, more modern skating rink (also called Skateland), which they operated for almost 20 years.
Virginia always loved the beach and, following her divorce, moved to Cannon Beach, Ore., where she single-handedly ran a small motel for 10 years. When she finally retired, she moved to Seaside, Ore., where she lived for 17 years before returning to Klamath Falls. There are so many words to describe her - feisty, fierce, fun, independent, strong - but most of all LOVING. She loved her family unconditionally.
Virginia, affectionately known to many as Grandma GinGin, is survived by two siblings, two children, nine grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by six of her siblings; her son-in-law, Bruce Butler; her loving son, Arthur; and Arthur's infant granddaughter, Myah Carmen Harris.
She used her 94-plus years to bring smiles to all who were privileged enough to know her. She will be missed.
Information taken from the 1991 Decatur Alumni Banquet booklet
Children: 3 children, 2 girls and one boy; 9 grandchildren.
Sorry I can't get back to visit with all my classmates. I was married for 41 years, been divorced for 4 years.
My ex-husband and I owned a operated a roller skating rink in Klancath Falls, Or for 20 years. I own a lovely place on the Pacific Ocean. Cannon Beach is a beautiful small tourist town. I'm managing an import gift shop in downtown Cannon Beach.
I do volunteer work at the Hospital and in the information center.