Christine Harris, 90, of Mt. Gilead, passed away peacefully on the evening of Friday, May 8, in the comfort of her daughter’s home.

Born on July 3, 1935, in Clendenin, West Virginia, Christine was the youngest child of the late Lon and Belle Cyrus.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jack Harris; her sons, Jack and Randy Harris; her son-in-law, Charles Wright; and her siblings, William and Virgil Cyrus and Oreda Mason. Her son, Carl Harris, has been missing since 1977.

Christine married Jack Harris on September 20, 1951, in West Virginia. In 1965, they made their home in Mt. Gilead, where Jack worked in the oil fields. The family later moved to Millersburg in 1977 before eventually returning to Mt. Gilead. They were married for 35 years, until Jack’s passing in 1986.

She is lovingly remembered by her surviving children: Oreda Wright of Mt. Gilead; Christine (LeRoy) Raber of Millersburg; and John (Peggie) Harris of Cardington. She was a proud grandmother to 13 grandchildren and leaves behind many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. In 2025, her large family gathered at Mt. Gilead State Park to celebrate her 90th birthday.

Christine was a dedicated and hardworking woman who held many roles throughout her life, including waitress, factory worker, custodian, secretary, home health aide, and service station attendant. Many may remember her as the cashier behind the counter at the Leaf Restaurant/Mini Mart in the 80s.

Christine had a gift for making a house a home. She loved decorating and took great pride in keeping her home ready for guests. Even on ordinary days, she delighted in dressing up, carrying herself with grace and style. She never had a middle name, but often said that if she could choose one, she would have been named Christine Francine.

She enjoyed gardening, canning, and, most of all, hosting family and friends. Christmas was her favorite season. Her home was filled with warmth, laughter, home-cooked meals, and carefully chosen presents for her many loved ones. No one ever left her house without being offered dessert and a cup of coffee.

She cherished storytelling, often sharing memories from her childhood during the Great Depression and of traveling by train to Charleston as a teenager. Musically talented, she loved singing harmonies and could play the piano and organ by ear. She also found great joy in discovering she was related to Billy Ray Cyrus when he rose to fame with his hit song, “Achy Breaky Heart.”

Later in life, she joined the General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists and was baptized on August 17, 1996, surrounded by her daughter and granddaughter.

Christine will be remembered as a generous woman, a bright light to all who knew her, and someone deeply devoted to her family. Her greatest legacy lives on in the family she loved so dearly. She will be deeply missed.

A private family interment will take place at Bryn Zion Cemetery, with a family celebration of life to be held in July on what would have been her 91st birthday.